Who is weak, and I do not feel weak? (2 Corinthians 11:29).
We are not called to follow Christ because we are strong. It seems that human weakness is a qualification for serving the Master. And we are all weak.
I’ve heard Billy Graham say many times, “If God takes his hands off me, my mouth will turn to stone.” What he really was saying is this, I’m weak, but God is strong. If left to myself, I’d be a total failure. I would put it this way, if we don’t have feelings of inadequacy, weakness and helplessness, we will probably never see God’s power at work through us.
During more than 40 years of ministry, I regularly have had feelings of weakness. Despite a good education, continual study, preparation and a great variety of experiences, I still find myself with feelings of weakness. I’ve learned to be dependent on the Spirit who is strong and helpful.
To be so dependent in ministry is not naturally easy for me. I like to be self-sufficient, strong and in control. But I’ve learned, sometimes through failure, that it is only by acknowledging my weaknesses and dependence on God that I can accomplish anything for the kingdom of God. The words of Jesus are still true, “Without me, you can do nothing.”
Perhaps you have had times when you have felt weak, inadequate and powerless. Perhaps it was when you were meeting with a small group of people or sharing your faith with a neighbor. Don’t be surprised at those feelings of weakness; we all have them.
We find it easy to talk about our successes and strengths; we don’t like to share our failures and weaknesses. Sharing only our successes, however, leads to competition and conflict. It is sharing weaknesses that brings community, understanding and God’s grace.
We all have weaknesses. In fact, church is a community of weak people. We identify with Paul who said, “I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.” (1 Corinthians 2:3).
The fact is that most Bible characters had major weaknesses. Moses, Gideon, Peter and David all acknowledged their weaknesses.
The longer I am in ministry, the more I find that God places me in situations where I feel powerless, weak and incapable. I still don’t like feeling weak, but I’ve discovered that it is in those moments that I see God work. I’ve learned that there are blessings to feeling powerless.
Weakness helps me have a greater dependence on God. “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). We may resent our limitations but they force us to depend on God.
Weakness keeps me from being proud. “I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven… He heard inexpressible things, things that man is not permitted to tell. I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses.” (2 Corinthians 12:2) Paul did not boast about his unique spiritual experiences but about his weaknesses.
Weakness brings empathy. It is my weakness that enables me to be sensitive to those around me and to understand what they are experiencing and feeling. My weakness reminds me of the needs of others.
Weakness helps me have a greater dependence on others. “Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.” (1 Corinthians 12:14-20).
Weakness enables me to have a Christ-like ministry. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-5).
Here’s how to face up to your weakness.
Accept your weaknesses. I have them. You have them, We all have them. Accept them.
Work on your weaknesses. There are some things you can do. Study to be a better organizer. Learn how to be a better public speaker. Develop better people-skills. Learn time management.
Trust the Lord to make you strong. “Such confidence as this is ours through Christ before God. Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant–not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” (2 Corinthians 3:5-6).
Step out in faith and with courage. Many Bible characters did this and they discovered God’s strength. “And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.” (Hebrews 11: 32-34).
Captain Cook was a famous sea captain who explored the world a few hundred years ago. He was famous. He let the people on the island of Hawaii think that he was someone important, but when the people realized he was not a god and only human like them, they killed him.
Most people want to maintain a strong public image. They want people to think they are strong. It is through acknowledging our weaknesses that we find acceptance and a place of Christ-like ministry.
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