“How strong are you?”
I used to ask my children this when they were young. They answered in the cute way of showing off their little biceps.
But on my own journey from child to adult, I learned culture’s definition of what makes a person strong.
And I learned how weakness comes in many shapes and sizes.
Like how weight lifting proved my arms lacked physical strength. Or, how low self-esteem, anxiety or discouragement labeled me a weak soul.
Also, how failure to excel in a class, understand a concept at work, or carry strong opinions, defined me as weak-minded.
Culture teaches us to stay strong and overcome weakness because it just isn’t pretty. Yet, in my heavenly Father’s Kingdom, weakness takes on a whole new meaning.
“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 when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10b ESV)
Paul’s visions and thorn in the flesh in Chapter 12, kept him from boasting in himself. He had endured many hardships and persecutions. Still, he learned his strength was found in his weakness.
While people often look down on weakness, God’s children look to Him to make us strong.
What Culture Says…What God the Father Says
Culture tells us to strive for independence. God says, Depend on Me.
Culture calls people weak who struggle to juggle all the things in life. God says, You don’t have to struggle to juggle anything. In fact, if you are doing the juggling act, you aren’t resting in Me.
Culture calls us weak unless we compete in the workplace and go for the jugular. God says, Find your identity in Me. Seek community, not competition.
Culture says we are weak if need help and we can’t pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. God says, Look to the hills, where does your help come? From Me the God of heaven and earth. (See Psalm 121:1.)
So the Father’s calling all perfectionists, all type-A personalities, all pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps people, every get-it-done man, woman, boy and girl.
And He’s calling all children of God who keep trying and striving to obtain the things of God on our own or living the Christian life in our own strength.
3 Ways Our Weakness Equals the Father’s Strength
(1) Weakness points to our need for a higher power.
If we were always strong, we wouldn’t need God. If we were never weak, never fell short, never failed, or always had it together, we wouldn’t need our heavenly Father who is all powerful or a Savior who’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.
(2) Weakness reminds us that we have limits.
Humans are limited. The our heavenly Father is limitless. (Read Billy Graham’s devotion on our limitless God.)
Maybe we think we have to be the strong one and keep everyone on track. Yet, who’s there for us, who’s the strong one for us? The heavenly Father.
Or, we grow tired and weak from feeling like we never measure up, feeling like we are never enough. Here’s the thing: in our heavenly Father we are already enough, we already have His strength.
(3) Weakness reveals our insufficiency.
Many times we take pride in thinking we are self-sufficient in our job, in life, and so on. Yet, we are never sufficient on our own. Not only do we need other people, but also God’s “grace is sufficient” for us. Then we face each day with renewed strength.
Our New Definition of Strong
Let’s do this exercise to further grasp our new definition of strong.
Insert your name in the blank below (2 Corinthians 12:9), and then read verses 9 and 10b out loud.
The Lord’s grace is sufficient for _________, for His power is made perfect in my weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
For when I am weak, then I am strong. (v.10b)
Featured photo by Caleb Jones on Unsplash.
Top photo by Ben White on Unsplash.
Middle photo by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash.
Bottom photo by Nathan Anderson on Unsplash.
When I am weak, He is strong…. Amen
Thanks, Melissa. I’m learning that if we were always strong, we wouldn’t need God. If we were never weak, never fell short, never failed, or always had it together, we wouldn’t need our heavenly Father who is all powerful or a Savior who’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.
I used to believe all of the culture lies. It was so liberating when I stopped listening to culture and started really listening to God, who urges us to just rest in him and depend on him. That is truly the secret to real content. I still struggle with the mixed messages I hear but I’m learning!
Hey Jessica, it’s a classroom we never really graduate from. But God’s calling all children of God who keep trying and striving to obtain the things of God on our own or living the Christian life in our own strength. Grateful His grace and strength is sufficient.
Well said, Karen.
Thank you, Beth. I’m learning to not listen to what culture is trying to scream through a megaphone. God says, “Look to the hills, where does your help come? From Me the God of heaven and earth.” (See Psalm 121:1.)
I love that we claim weakness as a means to God’s power to do just about anything we need when we serve Him. Even our awkwardness leads the way to confidence and astute delivery. Great clarity in this post, Karen.
So true, Stephen. Weakness is a good thing. It points to our need for a higher power and shows our limits as humans.
Love this Karen. I’ve recently come to know and understanding this saying, “God INFUSES me with His strength!”
Nan, thanks sweet friend. I like the image that saying paints. I’m thinking about you and praying for your situation.
The Lord’s grace is sufficient for Nan, for His power is made perfect in her weakness. Therefore she will boast all the more gladly of her weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon her.
For when she is weak, then she is strong.
Karen, I love the way you contrasted the teaching of our culture versus the teaching of our God. Talk about polar opposites! It is really a struggle to keep ourselves anchored in God’s truth when the world and the people around us actually look down on us for this. Thank you once again, for tethering our hearts and minds to God’s Word for the truth to live by!
I love this: “Culture calls people weak who struggle to juggle all the things in life. God says, You don’t have to struggle to juggle anything. In fact, if you are doing the juggling act, you aren’t resting in Me.”
What a wonderful message for us today! I need thee every hour, Lord.
God bless, Karen.
Nancy, it isn’t easy, but the Lord calls us to rest in Him and quit striving and struggling to keep our head above water in this crazy culture. Yes, Lord, I need thee every hour!
Such an important topic to talk about! It’s so easy to strive after perfection so we can feel independent and self-sufficient. I love this reminder that God has never asked us to strive after His perfection for that reason. Rather, He desires us to strive for Him to reveal to us how much we need Him!
Agree, Emily. The Father’s calling all perfectionists, all type-A personalities, all pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps people, every get-it-done man, woman, boy and girl. What’s the calling? To stop striving to be strong in ourselves and rest in His strength. Thanks for commenting.
I took a day last Thursday to be alone with the Lord. I do that once in a while. It’s a treasured time. Interestingly, the very thought process of your post is exactly what Jesus hemmed in on me. His big point was He is kind to me and sometimes I just need to receive that kindness and not feel like I need to do and go with it. I’m such a doer…but last Thursday I was a soaker…soaking up Christ’s beautiful kindness toward me. As a result, I’ve served since in His strength rather than my own. It’s good to have days to reset our perspective. My favorite part of your post is where you say, “Culture tells us to strive for independence. God says, Depend on Me.” Beautiful post, Karen!
Marcie, I not only love your day to be alone with the Lord, but also how it reset your perspective. I liked how you said on that day you were a soaker instead of a doer. So good! Then, you ended up serving in His strength rather than your own. Lord, help us to depend on You…on Your strength and not our own. Amen!
Amen sister. God can take our weaknesses and turn them into such beautiful strengths if we allow Him. Like Paul, I praise God for the times I am weak so His glory can shine through me.
Me too, Yvonne. Lord, help us celebrate weakness as a good thing because it points us directly to You and how strong YOU ARE. Amen.