When we say the word weakness, it always feels like it’s a negative thing. Whether it has to do with our business, career, or our personal life-- we don’t want weakness. This is why most self-help books focus on increasing our strength and doing away with our weaknesses. Our “strengths” have the power to change the course of our lives and to benefit us. If we do will talk about weaknesses it’s surely to figure out how to turn them into strengths and overcome them.
This is how the world views it: Weakness is not something to be proud of, it must be turned into something else.
But what does the Bible say about our weaknesses? How does God deal with them?
One of the best examples of dealing with weakness was seen with Paul when he wrote the second letter to the Corinthians. This letter was written as Paul’s response to the opposition that he was facing. He faced so much opposition that some people refused to believe that he is God’s servant because of it. To them, if God was with Paul then he shouldn’t be suffering as he did. Through their perspectives, Paul is nothing but a weakling.
Throughout his letter, Paul explained how his afflictions and weaknesses were actually the very means by which God revealed His strength.
We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. (2 Corinthians 4:7-9)
Instead of denying his weakness, he boasts about God’s strength through his weakness.
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)
By not letting his weakness and opposition disheartened him, the Apostle Paul glorified God more than he could have ever expected. God used Paul in such a way that we are still impacted even today.
You see, what the world sees as negative, God used to reveal His greatness.
In God, we can delight and boast about our weakness-- those things that the world hates. We can fully embrace those things that don't seem to fit in the world’s standard. Our identity has been secured in Christ and in what He has done for us.
We no longer have to fight for the acceptance that this world offers, we can live knowing that we are fully known and fully loved by Him...even when we feel weak.
Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God. (1 Corinthians 1:26-29)
So in your weaknesses, find God’s strength and use it all for His glory!