How is God’s strength made perfect in our weaknesses? It is the desire and the need to want to press on and not give up under pressure when times get tough. We should have hope, faith, and courage knowing that God’s power is displayed in our weaknesses. As human beings we are limited in our abilities; therefore we rely on the infinite abilities of God. Knowing that we have limitations should help us to develop and grow in our Christian walk and deepen our worship with Him.
Delighting in our weakness allows us to trust the nature of God and not lean on our understanding. When we feel we can do it on our own without trials or setbacks, we tend to forget God and rely solely on our abilities to carry us. But when we face real trials, real setbacks, and real persecutions; it changes our perspectives and we can now have a mindset to trust God through those things because we now realize that He is the only one who can truly carry us through.
We are bound to go through struggles and hardships, but when we know God is in it with us; we do not dwell on the struggles, we praise through it, we rejoice through it, and we trust God in it. He did not promise to take away the storm, He promised to be with us in the storm, and He will give us peace amid the storm.
Our weaknesses can also be how we handle the changes we go through in life, and our familiarity with changes will either encourage or discourage us. Changes can be good or bad depending on which handle we look at them from. Just as how the seasons change temperature-wise and we know how to adjust; it is the same as we go through life changes. If we cannot accept the changes in our lives and our weaknesses; we cannot reap the harvest.
The things we go through in life prepare us for what is ahead. God allows these things to happen so we can be who we were meant to be. It may not make sense at the time, but in the end, it will. The reason for this is so we can completely rely on God’s favor and grace to help us. He wants our total dependency on Him and who He is. Diamonds have to go through a purification and refining process to take the rough edges and blemishes away for them to glimmer and shine. Without that process, it wouldn’t be as beautiful and valuable as it is.
We too have to go through a refining process and though it can be painful, discouraging, and uncomfortable; we have to know that God is preparing us for greater, and without that process, there is no growth or development. Without that process, we cannot shine like the diamonds we truly are. Without that process, there is no purpose. God is the potter and we are the clay, He is always molding and shaping us according to each stage and season we go through.
Don’t allow your weakness to deter you from your destiny and from growing in God. Embrace them, learning from them; though it may not be easy God is the one doing the heavy lifting. He will not give us more than we can bear (1 Cor 10:13). Sometimes it seems more than we can bear, but He will give us the strength to overcome.
These are a few of the people who had to delight in their weaknesses and go through a refining process to develop their character in God. They had to be physically, emotionally, and mentally prepared to walk in their destiny.
- – Mary, despite the potential ridicule and shame she could face; became the mother of Jesus.
- – Moses had to learn to tend his father-in-law sheep so that he could lead the Israelites out of the land of Egypt.
- – Joseph was sold by his brothers and imprisoned in Egypt so he could become second in command to Pharoah to save his family from famine.
- – Esther was a poor orphan Jewish girl who became queen of Persia and helped save her people from complete annihilation.
- – David from a young shepherd boy to king of Israel.
- – Who can forget Paul one of the greatest Apostles of all time? He went from persecuting Christians to being thrown into prison for the gospel and his faith. He was a man that truly delight in his weaknesses because he did not give up when he faced persecution.
Merciful God, thank you that your strength is made perfect in our weaknesses. We do not delight in them, but we embrace them through your grace because we trust that you will carry us through. Help us not to doubt you but have faith in the God that never changes. The God of yesterday, today, and forevermore.
Amen!
