Weakness is not popular. In fact, if you do an internet search on common weaknesses, you find pages of ways to spin the classic interview question, \u201cWhat are your weakness?\u201d I understand. Until recently, I\u2019ve been exuberant in my efforts to hide my weaknesses or to overcome them by excessive striving. Exhausting.<\/p>\n
But this is changing. I’m learning weaknesses are actually beneficial. Two extraordinary truths are moving from mere facts to experiential realties. One detaches weaknesses from having anything to do with my worth. The other flips weakness upside down, completely reversing the outcome.<\/p>\n
As believers in Jesus Christ, our lives have been hidden in Him.[1] Because Jesus has redeemed us with His life, we\u2019re clothed in His righteousness.[2] When God sees us, He sees Christ. Spiritually, we\u2019ve been raised up in Christ and are seated with Him in heavenly places.[3]<\/p>\n
Being in Christ, God values us as His Beloved Son. This trumps all human opinions about us, even our own. Though we strive to forge out our identity by what we do and how we think we\u2019re perceived, God\u2019s thoughts about us define who we are. Since Christ doesn\u2019t change, our identity is sealed.<\/p>\n
Weakness never defines who I am.<\/p>\n
The Apostle Paul had a weakness. He called it his \u201cthorn in the flesh.\u201d[4] We don\u2019t know exactly what it was, but it tormented him so much that he pleaded with the Lord to take it away.<\/p>\n
The Lord\u2019s answer, \u201cMy grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.\u201d (2 Corinthians 12:9 NASB)<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n Power perfected in weakness sounds strange. But to the extent we think we\u2019re strong, we won\u2019t depend on the Lord. Our work is wasted. Detached from the Source of True Life, we may be exalted, but He is not.<\/p>\n Embracing our weakness and drawing on God’s strength fills us with His resurrection power. As Christ is formed in us, God gets he glory. We must decrease, while Christ increases.[5]<\/p>\n Paul put it this way, Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. <\/sup><\/strong><\/em>Therefore,<\/em> I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ\u2019s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.<\/em> (2 Corinthians 12:9b-10 NASB)<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Our weaknesses highlight our need to abide in Christ, our inner Source of Life and Strength.<\/p>\n Lord, I\u2019m sorry for how I\u2019ve tried to cover up and overcome my weaknesses without You. Weakness leads me to You. Thank You that my weaknesses have no effect on my worth because You value me. The most important thing about me is being loved by You. I want to embrace my weaknesses and stop trying to fix things on my own. You never intended to make a better version of me. I died and my life is hidden in You. When I know I\u2019m weak, in You I am strong. Teach me to yield always to Your life within. Be glorified in me. Amen. <\/em><\/p>\n <\/em><\/p>\n [1]<\/a> Colossians 3:3<\/p>\n [2]<\/a> 2nd<\/sup> Corinthians 5:21<\/p>\n [3]<\/a> Ephesians 2:6<\/p>\n [4]<\/a> 2nd<\/sup> Corinthians 12:7<\/p>\n [5]<\/a> John 3:30<\/p>\n Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures. <\/em><\/p>\n Subscribe below to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading. <\/em><\/p>\n <\/em>Novels by the Author:<\/p>\n