There are times in all of our lives when we have been brought to the point of our greatest weakness. It may be physical or emotional but either way, weakness has taken the spotlight on the stage of our life.
It is a vulnerable place where any trust or confidence in self has been set aside and a greater dependency upon others and upon God is required.
The Bible does not shy away from the subject of human weakness but rather seems to highlight it as an opportunity to experience something more than we have to offer.
In 2 Corinthians 12:9–10, we are told to “boast in our weakness so that the power of Christ will rest upon us…”
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
We are even told to be content with weaknesses of all sorts— for this is when His strength is made manifest within our lives. It is where grace becomes sufficient and a dependency upon His power to move and to save becomes all that we have.
There is something about having human strength that can easily begin to exchange grace for works. Do we recognize our need for grace when we feel strong and capable? Do we recognize our need for God’s power when we are rich and self-sufficient? Do we recognize our need for a Savior when we are healthy and fit? It is easy to become self-dependent or independent when we feel strong. Yet, none of these strengths can save the human soul— only the grace by which we have been saved. The majority of us came to the realization at a point of understanding our weaknesses.
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”
1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Men and women who consider themselves wise, strong, capable, and powerful according to worldly standards do not recognize their need for God’s grace or their need for His power. Yet, so often the rich, the beautiful, the talented, and the powerful are the most broken and needy behind the facade of human strength that others see. In the end— we all come to the place of weakness— who will be their strength then?
If someone were to see me today— I am at one of my weakest places physically. I’ve been very ill for over a month and honestly, I have a hard time walking across the room (this will pass but it’s my reality today). Because I am so weak physically, it causes me to feel weak mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually. Yet— God’s grace and power have not diminished due to my weakness! As a matter of fact, I believe that His strength and power are stronger in me during this time because my dependency is not divided— I have nothing but His strength to lean upon.
If you are weak today— not just weak, but poor, needy, cast down, or sick— then boast in your weakness as you trust in the sufficiency of His grace and the power of His strength to intervene on your behalf. He is able to do abundantly more than you need or even imagine that He can do.
There is a place where the weak can go to seek help— it is the throne of grace where our Savior’s compassion and mercy flow freely. This is where help in our weakness comes from.
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:15-16
Our God is never weak and never poor— His strength and His riches are given to us as we rely upon His grace. Here are words to encourage you in your time of weakness,
Isaiah 40:28–31
Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Purchase Kathi’s book The Yielding: A Lifestyle of Surrender here.
This is an updated edition of a post originally published on Inscribe Ministries
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