Early in my faith walk I did everything I could to IGNORE and cover up my weaknesses through faces and facades. Money and materialism. Power and pride. But when my spiritual maturity deepened and I drew ever closer to Christ walking with Jesus every day, something odd and wonderful happened. I became INSPIRED by my WEAKNESSES.
How could that be?
“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.” 2 Corinthians 12:10
Our weaknesses never disappear. But how we view them can change dramatically and transform our faith walk. It did for me. Here are two steps to that end…
FIRST: This reality must be flashed on your screen–it’s difficult to live with our revealed weaknesses without drawing close to Christ and connecting with him every day through his Word and prayer. If we don’t make that intimate connection, we are vulnerable to falling into SPIRITUAL LONELINESS and feeling a sense of separation from God.
SECOND: Do not believe the LIE that our weaknesses are DISQUALIFIERS to be spiritually mature and identify our life purpose to serve God and tell others about his Good News.
That’s why I want to be INSPIRED by my WEAKNESSES.
To do that, we must learn how to walk with those weaknesses by relying on Christ’s power and not allow them to hijack our mind, thoughts, motives, and actions. The apostle Paul never forgot his weaknesses, which made him rely on God’s strength, not his own (2 Corinthians 12:9).
He knew his relationship with Jesus was a life-long and never-ending learning journey that would not be finished until he reached eternal glory.
“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Philippians 3:12
Being assured of his coming righteousness in Heaven did not remove his burden to serve and do God’s work while he still walked on this side of the Heavenly divide. So he forged on…WITH his weaknesses in tow (Isaiah 40:29).
That’s my goal, too. I want to know that I am COMPLETE IN CHRIST…even with my weaknesses.
I thank God for giving me the wisdom to see that my weaknesses help me serve him because in those weaknesses I rely on his unlimited power and not my own impotent strength.
WHAT ABOUT YOU?
Are you inspired by your weaknesses? Are you relying on your strength or God’s power?
“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 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.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
