Weakness Is Your Greatest Strength
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” ~God
See 2 Corinthians 12:9
What is perhaps the greatest characteristic you can develop as a Christian? Weakness. I believe hordes of more people would come to know Jesus Christ if they thought they didn’t have to become weak. However, weakness is how you enter into the deepest levels of God’s grace! Weakness is how you become the most strong! It’s a strange paradox which God has set up!
The Bible says, “God’s power is made perfect in our weakness” (see 2 Corinthians 12:9, my emphasis added). So what does that even mean? How can God’s power be made perfect in our weakness? To the human mind, that makes no sense.
First off, don’t confuse weakness with sin or passivity. When Paul wrote this verse, he wasn’t saying we should sin more to get stronger, or to sit on our hands while chanting, “Grace…grace…grace…” No. He was saying when we begin to make choices based on the leading of God’s Spirit in us–even to the point of it making us seem weak–then, in that weakness, we are strong!
Your entire life will change for the better when you begin to do this! Yes, in the beginning it requires severe humility on your part. This is because you’re no longer doing things according to the flesh or unrenewed mindsets. However, humility is Christianity 101! The entry level course! This is the very beginning! Humbling yourself to God’s guidance and saying, “Yes. You are correct. My perfect spirit was not created to make these choices. Help me” (see James 4:6).
Friend, until we finally say, “Jesus, you’re right, I’m wrong. I need your wisdom.” nothing will change. But afterwards, TRUE STRENGTH DEVELOPS! It’s amazing how this works! I know it seems counterproductive to become weak, but God knows what He’s doing! This new weakness creates confidence, and this confidence is coming from Christ in you germinating out of you! He’s molding you on the outside with what you already have on the inside–PERFECTION! (See Hebrews 10:14, Philippians 2:12, Colossians 1:22).
So when we stop reacting to difficult people and unfair circumstances based on how we feel, and instead, we react according to what the Holy Spirit in us approves of, a brand new strength comes from within us! You’ll see!
You will be amazed at how your relationships begin to change when you stop reacting how you always have–that is, before you knew God had made your spirit holy forever, once and for all time (see Hebrews 10:10). When someone does you wrong and the flesh and stinking thinking want you to react in a manner that is not you (see Galatians 5:16-18)–but instead, you override both with your true perfect spirit, God will be sure to take care of you, that relationship, and your circumstances. This results in you being able to rest in confidence and peace–anxiety free–even in your most strenuous situations.
Honestly, as Christians, without living by our perfect spiritual identity, when people treat us unfairly or when difficult seasons arise, we will react in one of two ways—or both at the same time:
- Fearfully.
- Sinfully.
God doesn’t want you to react with either because neither describes you! God wants you to react in the proper way, which is by being yourself (see 2 Peter 1:5-9). As we choose to do this in the midst of our turmoil, we will originally produce love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, forgiveness, gentleness, and self-control…self…control, as well as many other good things which are inside of us as Christ-possessed people (see Galatians 5:22-23, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, 6:19, Colossians 3:3).
The Holy Spirit will always speak to our hearts and guide us. It’s up to us to make the flesh become weak for Him. We accomplish this feat–gracefully–by walking by His Spirit, rather than by the flesh.
Paul said, “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 12:10, my emphasis added). FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG! C’mon somebody! This is good stuff!
Paul even went on to say, “I have made a fool of myself” (see 2 Corinthians 12:11, my emphasis added)–and ain’t that the truth? Isn’t that how we feel in the beginning of doing this? In being ourselves and letting Christ live through us to the point of weakness? We feel foolish–BUT THAT’S OKAY! WHO CARES?! GOD DOESN’T SEE YOU AS A FOOL! HE SEES YOU AS STRONG! (See 1 Corinthians 1:27).
When you are doing your very best to live Him out–even when every fiber of the flesh says to do the opposite–YOU ARE STROOOOONG! YOU. ARE. STRONG!
You are showing God that you love and respect Him by being who He created you to be as a new creation in Christ! (See 2 Corinthians 5:17). And you are doing this with your actions…with your weaknesses. You’re not just talking about it, you are being about it! This is a good thing, a very good thing! (See James 1:22, 1 John 3:18). You are acting like your perfect spiritual self! As we continue to do this, God takes care of the results. We trust Him, we rest in His grace, we just gotta be ourselves. How simple.
So today, my friends, know this: You are the most strong when you are the most weak. When the wind is blowing hard, all around you, and you feel like you’re going to break; when you beeeeeeend like a tree in a hurricane because life is trying to blow you over–know that you will never break! Why? Because your roots are firmly planted in Christ–who is your strength! (See Philippians 4:13).
A prayer for you: Father, thank you for your strength, thank you for Jesus. Thank you for making me, and thank you for another day! You are such a good Father! I also want to thank you for my good health, for my job, my home, and every blessing you’ve given me that I don’t even recognize. THANK YOU! Right now, I lift up all who are reading this, directly to you. For those who want to become strong in the strength of Jesus, yet, the devil keeps fighting them, help them! Renew their minds and teach them that true strength can only be found in Christ! Amen.
This devotional is from 60 Days for Jesus, Volume 1. Get your copy here!