Weaknesses
For the past few months, the areas of my life which I would label as “weaknesses” have really been rearing their ugly head! For the most part, I recognize that these just are not natural strengths that I have and have accepted it. You know put the “well God just gave me this personality and made me this way” label. In the past, I have just not really thought a whole lot more about it.
BUT, lately, I am seeing that some of those “weaknesses” are really just rebellion against doing something I don’t want to do. It is me being stubborn or passive aggressive or prideful.
I think having a third child has really brought these things to the forefront. Almost like I could hide them more readily with one or two kids, but bring on the third and I am exposed.
I think the difference this time, is that God is not cutting me any slack and His conviction has been swift, painful and has left me seeing things in a new light. I don’t want to settle anymore and shrug off those little things. I am seeing that He is continuing to prune and cut away all that does not honor Him.
Last night we talked about weaknesses at church. I saw again the beauty of God’s grace and mercy. Who else would use our weaknesses to make us strong. Who else would allow us to use those things that the world would label as weakness and turn it into something good and right. Who else would love us enough to never stop spurring us on towards His likeness. Sin left unchecked isn’t a minor infraction to God. It is outright, in your face, rebellion. He has given us such a rich promise in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10:
is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all teh more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s
power may rest on me.
That is why for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults,
in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.
I wouldn’t say that God uses our weakness to make us stronger. That certainly isn’t what Paul is meaning in those verses. (Paul isn’t referring to sin, either). God does something far different and that brings Him more glory–He displays His power in our weakness. We aren’t made weak so that one day we become strong. We are weak so that He has a vessel in which He can display the power of the Gospel. Paul even says that God uses the weak instead of the strong so that what is seen can only be attributed to the power of God. The moment you begin to see yourself as strong, you may be rendered useless.
Leslie- I by no means am saying that I am made strong in my own effort. I am perfectly aware that these verses refer to Paul asking God to remove a weakness, that was a struggle for him and God refused him. He wanted the strength of Paul to only be attributed to Himself. I am also not saying that my weaknesses are necessarily sin. Some are, some are not. I am saying that in God’s grace, He takes those things that are weak and uses them to bring Him glory. In our weaknesses, we have the opportunity to submit them to the Lord and have Him use them for His ultimate glory.