How Your Weakness Can Become Your Strength

Christianity has a special connection to weakness.  Although counterintuitive in many ways, Jesus came preaching a message of weakness rather the human strength.  This is because we are all weak in certain areas of our lives.  We have this in common.  From preachers to politicians; from factory workers to postal workers; from professional athletes to policemen, the headlines remind us everyday that human beings are extremely flawed.

So when Jesus preached about embracing our weaknesses, it instantly unites us.  His message becomes immediately relevant to everyone.  It’s the common thread that brings all human beings together - something that neither religion nor politics could do.  And for those who are courageous enough to agree with His assessment, they gladly embrace one another.

We are united by the human condition. 

• We all have areas of weakness.  Everybody!  Even Christians.
• Weakness reminds us that we are human.  We are no better than anyone else.
• We are united by our common weakness.  Mutual strengths produce competition but mutual weakness produces unity.

Christ’s unique perspective on life teaches us that strength comes from weakness.  And Jesus should know.  Not only did He came from a highly marginalized part of Israel where prejudice was common and opportunities were few, but He was also the Son of God who took human form.  He was a King Who took the form of a humble servant (Philippians 2:5-8).

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.

Then He served others as a Physician Who resisted those that considered themselves spiritually elite - without need of a Savior – and focused His ministry on sick people (Matthew 9:12). 

When Jesus heard that, He said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

He taught us how to find a place of strength by taking a position of humility and submission (Matthew 5:38-40). 

You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. If anyone wants to sue you and take away your tunic, let him have your cloak also.

Even humanity’s first encounter with the Holy Spirit is to convince us of our faults and shortcomings so we can become Children of God (John 16:8).

And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.

And then, to illustrate its full truth, Jesus died on a cross, giving us a living example of how to embrace our weakness and allow strength and power can come from the most humiliating circumstances (Philippians 2:9-11)!

Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

In II Corinthians 12, Paul was recounting his experiences with weakness.  Writing to the Corinthian Church, Paul said, “And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure (V-7).” 

What was this thorn in the flesh?  Frankly, I don’t care.  It’s not important to me.  Who was this messenger from Satan that buffeted him?  Again, I don’t care.   It’s not important to me, either.

What’s important to me is that Paul’s weakness had a purpose.  It was to keep him humble and depending on God.  It kept him from becoming another arrogant religious leader who was impressed with his own intellect.  This reminder of his human weakness kept him depending on God’s grace like everyone he preached to.

We are the most dangerous to others and ourselves when we have just had our most powerful spiritual encounters.  We are the most vulnerable to spiritual pride and arrogance when we achieve our greatest victories or receive our greatest revelations.

To shield Paul from this kind of vanity, God allowed him to have a thorn in the flesh.

A messenger.

A reminder.

A weakness.

So Paul prayed about it!  “Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.”  But it would not go away.   When God finally answered him He said,  “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

Did you get that?  Our weakness makes God’s strength perfect!

This should give us hope!

It certainly did for Paul!  Knowing that his weakness had a purpose and God’s grace was his sufficiency, Paul embraced his weakness so that only God could be glorified.

His humanity was exposed and God’s grace was exalted!

So Paul explodes with enthusiasm saying, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 

Then he draws a powerful conclusion, “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

How can this happen?  How can we turn our weaknesses into God’s strengths?  How can we glorify God and His grace by embracing our weakness?  Consider these three ways:

1. The strength of God rests upon us when we are HUMBLE enough to admit our weaknesses.  This should not be hard for us.  Be honest.  Listen to your conscience.  You know that there are many things that you say, think and do over a day’s time that are not as pure and holy as they could be.  You also know that there are many other pure and holy things you could think about, say and do on a daily basis but don’t because you are drawn away with pure selfishness.

So there!

You are human like the rest of us!

2. The strength of God rests upon us when we are GRATEFUL enough to focus on the Father’s grace.  Loving God because of what He has done for us is the only adequate motivation for serving Him - not guilt; not religion; not fear; not duty.  While all of these things may work for a short time, nothing can motivate a human heart through the good times and bad like love and gratitude. 

A loving and grateful heart can keep a person going through the troubles that Paul experienced.  He mentions infirmities, reproaches, needs, persecutions and distresses.  Only a heart full of love and gratitude can be motivated through such trials.  And it all begins with being familiar with our own weaknesses.

3. The strength of God rests upon us when we are DETERMINED enough to rejoice in spite of our weakness.  No matter what, we can turn our weaknesses into strengths when we are determined to rejoice in all situations.  Paul said he would boast about his weakness and rejoice in infirmities, reproaches, needs, persecutions and distresses.  When we rejoice in our circumstances and don’t allow our hearts to get discouraged, the strength of God is released in our lives and things begin to change.   

Armed with humility, gratitude and determination, there is no mountain you can’t climb, no river you can’t cross, no giant you can’t slay and no challenge you can’t overcome.  You have the strength!

And it all begins with weakness.

Something we all have in common!