Rejoicing in Weakness
“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
Some have called me stubborn. Others have joked that I have, at times, resembled a bull in a China’s cabinet. Perhaps my bull-headedness comes from being a child of the seventies. Regardless, my fierce reliance on myself can hinder my growth and my relationship with Christ and others.
My father was a wrestling coach, so I grew up watching him lead practices where he pushed his athletes past their perceived capabilities. Often, I benefited from his keen insight to the human psyche and, like his high school trainees, attempted to rise to whatever challenge he set. I interpreted, “I bet you can’t” to mean, “Show me can.” While this got me through much adversity, it also fed my pride.
By adulthood, I’d made my fitness level my god and my identity. Then, in 2011, I became sick. Not only could I not train, run, or lift a single weight; some days I spent most of my time in bed. In my weakness, I needed help from others and from God.
At first, this shook me and sent me spirally into depression. I lost sight of who I was—for a time. But ultimately, as I continually drew closer to Christ, I discovered who I was—in Him. More than that, I learned weakness wasn’t something shameful to be avoided. Rather, it was something inherent to the human condition, something that draws man to Jesus and one another. As we rely on our brothers and sisters in Christ, we reveal a supernatural love, and as we lean on God, we proclaim its source.
Our world often idolizes strength and independence, but Scripture proclaims a different message. The Bible tells us, when we are weak, we are strong for God’s strength is perfected within us. Therefore, we have no cause for embarrassment. Rather, may we boldly proclaim our frailties, so that others may see Christ—His strength and power—in us.
Jennifer Slattery is a writer, speaker, and the founder of Wholly Loved Ministries. Find her podcast, Faith Over Fear on LifeAudio.com and find her books on her Amazon page. When not writing, reading, or editing, Jennifer loves going on mall outings with her adult daughter and coffee dates with her hilariously fun husband. Visit her online at jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com.
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Originally published Thursday, 30 April 2020.
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