Have you missed the mark… again? Have you let yourself and/or others in your life down?

If so, you’re in good company, friend. The Bible is filled with examples of people who were plagued by failure and weakness.  Abraham lied, Moses murdered, David slept with another man’s wife and had him killed, Peter denied Christ three times, and Paul persecuted and murdered Christians.

Yet, all of these men were used mightily by God. Why? Because God is good, that’s why. He didn’t need their ability to do or be good to accomplish his purposes on the Earth or in their lives for that matter. In fact scripture tells us, “He uses the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. ” (1 Cor 1:27). That means that our success in the heavenly paradigm is not based on our ability to never make mistakes. In fact, he has at times chosen to use those very areas to shine through us.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 New International Version (NIV)

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 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.

Let’s look at the word boast. One definition defines boast as, “To talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one’s achievements, possessions, or abilities.” That really puts Paul’s mind set in perspective. He had gotten to a place where he could talk about his weaknesses, failures and faults with “excessive pride and self-satisfaction.” Yet the source of his boasting was not in what his weaknesses were but in who God was and could do in spite of his weakness. I think it would be like winning a car race despite the fact you had four flat tires. If that happened to me you would never hear the end of it.  I would be boasting about that to everyone I met and I would not just be saying I won the race. I would be saying, “I won the race WITH FOUR FLAT TIRES!” This is where we need to be.

Next, I want to look at that statement, “[God’s] power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul could glory in his weaknesses because that is the very place that God moved most effectively in his life.  It was the place where he needed God most. Unfortunately, we don’t often recognize our weaknesses and or greatest needs until we are faced with them. Thus, it is hard to understand the power of something until we need it and do not have it. Hence, God is telling us that His power becomes most apparent to us when we are weak and [finally] recognize our need for it. A friend said to me this week, “God is not dissolutioned about who we are.” He knows we are weak. He knows we need him. Yet we are the ones who are in need of constant reminders of that fact.

So why do we spend so much time trying to feign strength? Why we do cover and hide our weak places when exposing them and dragging them into the light is the key that unlocks the grace that we need to overcome them? Indeed, brothers, this question is worthy of meditation.

So, when is the last time you boasted or took pleasure in your weaknesses? In truth, It’s not something I practice regularly. Yet, that was Paul’s prescription for the power of God resting on his life and… I want that. I want the power of God resting on my life. How about you?

Today, let us consider our weaknesses in the light of God’s grace and proceed with all confidence in knowing he alone is our strength and our sufficiency.

Be blessed,

MfG

Questions to consider:

Have you honestly come face to face with you weaknesses?

Do you know what they are?

Have you shared your weaknesses with other men?

What weaknesses are you are afraid to share with the men and why?

How will you begin to boast in your weaknesses? 

Share the your responses in the comments below and let the discussion begin!

• failure
• faith
• grace
• weakness