Beneficial Weakness – Where my Strength Begins

I am weak. A lot of people view me as strong, but the strength they actually see in me is God’s strength. Me? On my own, I am weak.  Sometimes I forget that, but then the Lord reminds me by allowing some trial like the one I mentioned in my last post, Saul vs. David — God wins .

I understand a little better how David felt when Saul was hunting him down, seeking his life. I wonder if he didn’t sometimes suffer from a bit of PTSD, feeling anxious about whether Saul and his army might be lurking around the next bend or behind the next outcropping in the rocks. There must be a reason why he penned the words,

“When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.” Psalm 94:19 NASB and:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts;” Psalm 139:23  NASB

Having someone who hates you without a cause, who insults you and spies on you and lies about you and slanders you and falsely accuses you….  That’s hard.  It’s even harder to continue actively loving them, knowing that your next loving act may just bring on another volley of same ole, same ole.  And yet, God calls us, He calls me, to keep on loving anyway.

But I am weak.  So how am I supposed to love them?

The Apostle Paul says,  “Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.  And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.  Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”  2 Corinthians 12:8-10  NASB

Well, I can’t say I’ve hit the “content” with weaknesses button successfully yet, but I am peacefully resigned to it, and at least I know I’m headed in the right direction.  I am happy to know that I serve a God who loves me in spite of my failures, and that His strength now has the opportunity to have another channel to show that same love to another person who also lives with failure, albeit in a different area.

So, today I pray the words of David:

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts;  And see if there be any hurtful way in me,  And lead me  in the everlasting way.”  Psalm 139:23,24  NASB

12 thoughts on “Beneficial Weakness – Where my Strength Begins”

  1. For many years, anytime I had a hard time with something or someone, I always tried to figure things out on my own. I would be so hard on myself if I couldn’t figure it out. I would try harder to find solutions. I felt so weak when I realized I just couldn’t fix it all. It’s only in the past few years that I have started to rely on God in my times of weakness. When I feel under attack, I turn to him. When things are going badly, I turn to him. I’m not perfect in this. I still forget at times and try to fix everything on my own. I am learning, slowly, to turn to God first. He is the ultimate comforter, healer and provider. With God, all things are possible. I must put him first and watch what he can do. This was a nice post. Thanks for the reminder that I must keep God ahead of everything I do.

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    1. Yes, Isabelle, I understand. I was born with an analytical mind. I’ve always wanted to figure things out. But I was already over the hill before God came and showed me that a lot of my trying to figure things out fell into the realm of “leaning on my own understanding” instead of leaning on Him. That light bulb moment gave new meaning to Proverbs 3:5.
      Also, I am to bring every thought captive to the authority of Christ, including my analytical ones, something I struggle with every day. (2 Cor. 10:5)
      Keep on keeping on! 🙂

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  2. Thank you for the weaknesses we bear are more than a flaw in us. They may be a piece of who we are to God or a way for God to show His strength in us..to others or to ourselves. I, too, am learning to be alright with my weaknesses. The older I become, the more weaknesses I seem to have. I pray that God uses them to draw me closer to Him.

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    1. Amen, Linda. You know how water finds the lowest levels and places of least resistance to flow? I wonder if that couldn’t be compared to the Holy Spirit who is a powerful, life-giving fountain in us and desires some weak places in us, some places of little or no resistance, to flow through us to the thirsty world outside.

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  3. So often, I am thankful for the words of David and how they so mirror our own walk with God. And totally in awe of God loving me in the midst of my failures. Thanks for this sweet reminder! I’d love for you to share your message on #FreshMarketFriday link-up! After a day like today, your words were a comfort:)

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  4. I am grateful to God for His strength made perfect in our weaknesses. I have been challenged lately with anxious thoughts, and being convicted by the Holy Spirit to endure with patient perseverance. Your devotional post reminded me that I am not alone in this struggle against false accusations and angry spirits. The Lord has just reminded me that a soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up strife. What a friend we have in Jesus; I must remember to proactively trust him daily, to avoid leaning upon my own understanding. Bless the Lord for His benefits.

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    1. Thanks, Dennis, for pointing out that we are not alone in our struggles. David was not the only one who had this struggle; my brothers and sisters in this current period of history also have this struggle. And of course, each of us has the Lord ever present with us, our strength in times of trouble!
      A soft answer turns away wrath is a good verse to remember! I’m having to do more than that in my situation, in that it is obvious that there is a spiritual battle going on, and I need to pray for deliverance (for myself and my neighbor) from the evil spirits that are stirring up the strife and for those to be replaced by God’s Spirit of peace.

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  5. Thank you for sharing this. I know I’ve been overwhelmed by my weaknesses in the past few weeks and was shocked when something happened yesterday and people commented on my strength. I know it isn’t mine alone!

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  6. That’s right, Leah! That’s great that you relied on the Lord enough that someone was able to notice Him working in and through you! Keep on striving to draw near to Him!
    Thanks for your visit! Feel free to drop by again sometime! 🙂

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  7. Ruth, the strength in me is God yet sometimes I fool myself into thinking it’s ME. Ugh. This battle with pride is an ugly thing. I just wish I never forget the humility and mercy and grace I experience when I am weak. When times are good, I think I am good ON MY OWN, but really, that’s still God. I am so thankful God knows me well and loves me still, a love that will not let me go.

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    1. I just realized that I never replied to this. Sorry, sweet Sarah.
      I think we all have that tendency; it is that human thing in us called sin.
      The fact that you battle it is a good thing. It shows that you want to overcome. And fortunately, in Christ we are more than conquerors! We just have to continue to abide in Him every day.
      And I’m with you on being thankful that He still loves me so much in spite of my many failures.
      May the Lord bless you with all the strength, wisdom, enthusiasm, and love that you need in your efforts to be the best mom and wife that you can for the glory of God.

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