Originally published Tuesday, 14 May 2013.
Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size – abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. 2 Corinthians 12:10 (MSG)
Picture: Creationswap.com | Design: Wendy van Eyck
We were laughing at her weakness.
Giggling at how her friend had told her she really needed to get a new wig after it had been burnt in the oven.
Chuckling at the story of how during chemotherapy she had so badly wanted everyone to think she wasn’t sick, she had drawn eyebrows on with brown lipstick for a week, before she’d seen how funny she looked.
This friend of mine has been cancer free for 8 years.
We can laugh about these stories now, about how her attempts at hiding her weakness with wigs and makeup failed.
On my drive home I was thinking about her stories.
And I was thinking about all the times I’ve hidden depression or anger or insecurity because I think it’s more important that I give out the right impression than let people see my weakness.
As I passed the city lights I contemplated how us humans are always trying so hard to let other people think we’re okay.
We’re always trying so hard to let everyone know that we’re strong, that we can do this, that we can overcome stuff on our own without anyone else’s help.
But that’s not how God wants us to live.
God wants us to live dependent on him.
God wants us to be people in touch with our limitations, aware that we can’t do everything on our own, conscious that without Him and others we are weaker.
It’s a scary thing to let others see our weakness; to let others see our runny makeup and burnt hair.
Even more scary to let people see our hurt hearts and rickety emotions and delicate fears. However, I think what Paul is saying in 2 Corinthians is that sometimes if we want to overcome, if we want to be stronger, that’s exactly what we have to do.
We have to let our weakness show. <-- Tweet This
We have to be vulnerable.
And once we are, Jesus can come, our friends can come, and in the space where our weaknesses were, they can offer comfort and hope and strength.
What weakness do you hate to let others know about? Pray that God will help you take these limitations in stride, with good cheer.
Sign up to receive new devotionals via email. Follow my thoughts and other writings by liking my Facebook page. If you enjoyed this devotional why not tweet it for your followers by clicking here. This devotional originally appeared on my blog ilovedevotionals.com
SHARE
