### **Introduction: The Pressure to Be Strong**
Video Ill.: Sermon Bumper
We live in a culture that bullies weakness. If you cannot handle it on your own, you are labeled as fragile, broken, or useless. Weakness is laughed at, mocked, and quickly dismissed. From childhood, we are told to toughen up, power through, and never show vulnerability.
Just look at who we idolize: the self-made millionaire, the soldier who never cries, the star athlete who pushes through pain, and the superhero who carries the weight of the world on their shoulders—think Superman, Captain America, Wonder Woman, Black Panther.
Our heroes never stumble. They do not ask for help. They rise above it all, and they do it alone.
And so the message sinks in: if you are not strong enough on your own, something must be wrong with you.
To reinforce that message, you do not have to look far. Just type “how to be strong” into a search engine and you will find an overwhelming flood of advice. Articles like:
13 Ways to Be Mentally Strong
How to Toughen Up and Stop Being Emotionally Weak
10 Steps to Become Emotionally Indestructible
Master Your Mindset: Become Unstoppable
Never Let Them See You Struggle
The most popular tips are pure self-reliance:
[1]: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/relationships/work/how-to-be-more-confident-5-effective-tips/photostory/121769215.cms "How to be more confident: 5 effective tips"
[2]: https://amymorinlcsw.com/mentally-strong-people "13 Things Mentally Strong People Don't Do - Amy Morin, LCSW"
Embrace awkwardness by stepping out of your comfort zone—to build resilience and self-trust.
Practice positive self-talk to change the narrative inside your head.
Use the “2-minute rule”—start something challenging for just two minutes to overcome mental resistance.
Focus outward—instead of worrying about being judged, pay attention to others.
Don’t feel sorry for yourself, don’t shy away from change, and never give up after failure.
These are well-meaning strategies… but at their core, they all reinforce one idea: it’s up to you to fix everything.
Article after article, post after post, reel after reel—each one preaching the same gospel: strength is about independence. Strength means keeping your struggles hidden. Strength means never needing anyone—including God.
But the truth is… that is a lie.
Eventually we will not be able to do it all. Eventually we will wear out. Eventually we will stumble and fall.
When our strength runs out—which it inevitably will—who will hold us up?
The world’s lie says: “You are not strong enough, and that makes you a failure.”
?But God’s Word says something radically different:
Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:
9 … [The Lord] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, || in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12, NKJV)
This morning, we’re continuing our study, “Lies the World Tells”. Over the last two weeks, we’ve been exposing the lies the world tells us—and replacing them with the truth of God’s Word.
In week one, we uncovered the lie that we have to earn God's love—when the truth is, His love is a free gift of grace, not something we can work for or deserve.
In week two, we confronted the lie that our past defines us. But Scripture showed us that in Christ, we are made new—redeemed, restored, and no longer held captive by shame.
Today, we want to unlearn self-reliance and learn dependence on Him—because we do not have to be strong enough on our own.
The world’s lie leads us into a constant cycle of exhaustion and shame.
### **I. The Burden of Self-Reliance**
Consider the heavy burden of self-reliance. When we believe the lie that we have to do everything on our own—that we have to be strong enough, capable enough, disciplined enough—we begin to buckle under the weight.
It is exhausting.
You finish one task, only to see three more waiting. You try to hold it all together—family, work, emotions, faith—but the cycle never stops. And every day you feel like you're falling further behind. It wears you down.
So what do we do?
We avoid letting others in. We build walls to protect ourselves.
“I can handle it.”
“I don’t need anyone.”
“If I let someone in, they’ll just judge me.”
And so we keep pretending.
We hide the struggle. We mask the exhaustion. On the outside, we project confidence and competence. But inside, we are crumbling. The weight is too much. And because we isolate ourselves, we become not only exhausted… but lonely.
Then the fear creeps in.
What if I fail?
What if I cannot finish this?
What if I am not enough?
The anxiety grows. The burnout builds. We burn the candle at both ends until there is nothing left. The flame flickers out.
And when the burden is spiritual—when we are trying to overcome sin, resist temptation, earn God's approval in our own strength—it leads to collapse.
We fall.
We give up.
We stop trying.
Because we were never meant to carry that weight alone.
**Illustration: The Overloaded Backpack**
Imagine a hiker setting out on a long journey with a massive backpack—stuffed with everything they think they will need. Food, tools, clothes, gear, and then some. It is so heavy, they can barely stand upright.
But they are determined to carry it all.
Mile after mile, the weight takes its toll. Their back aches. Their legs shake. They start discarding things along the way, but it is not enough. And yet—they will not ask for help. That would be weakness. That would be failure.
Eventually, their knees give out. They fall to the ground—crushed by the weight they were never meant to carry alone.
Friends, that is what self-reliance does to our souls.
But God’s truth offers a radically different message…
We were not created to live in our own strength.
We were created to rely on God.
That is not weakness—it is wisdom.
### **II. The Truth: God’s Strength Is Made Perfect in Our Weakness**
Earlier, we read from 2 Corinthians 12, where Paul opens up to the church about what he calls his “thorn in the flesh”—a messenger of Satan that tormented him.
Now, the word thorn here is translated from the original Greek word that more accurately refers to a stake, like the kind upon which criminals would be impaled.
The Daily Study Bible: The Letter to the Corinthians
William Barclay
1961
pp. 287-289
According to William Barclay in The Daily Study Bible: The Letter to the Corinthians, Paul is not describing a minor annoyance or irritation. He is describing something debilitating—disruptive, painful, and full of misery.
What exactly was it?
Scholars have guessed everything from physical illness and temptation, to epilepsy, poor eyesight, migraines, or even recurring malarial fever.
But the truth is—we do not know what it was.
And that is the point.
What we do know is that Paul pleaded—begged—God three times to take it away.
And this was God's answer:
9 …“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness….” (2 Corinthians 12, NKJV)
God did not remove the weakness.
He redeemed it.
So how does Paul respond?
9 …Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12, NKJV)
Let that sink in.
Paul says that in weakness—not in strength—he experiences the power of Christ most fully.
Friends, God never asked us to be strong on our own.
He is not expecting perfection.
He is offering power—His power.
Paul shares the “how” in Philippians 4:
11 Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or || little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (Philippians 4, NLT)
It is through Christ that we are empowered to live faithfully.
It is by His strength that we endure, overcome, and grow.
This is not about personal greatness—it is about God’s sustaining grace.
He meets us in our weakness.
He carries us when we cannot go on.
And when we feel like we are falling apart, His strength holds us together.
**Key Point:**
Your weakness is not a liability—it is an opportunity for God’s strength to shine.
### **III. Biblical Examples of Strength in Weakness**
Throughout Scripture, God consistently chose people who did not seem qualified—people whose weaknesses were evident, but whose surrender opened the door for His strength.
Let’s look at just a few of those stories and see how God used weakness as a stage for His glory.
Moses – The Reluctant Leader
Moses grew up in Pharaoh’s palace, but after fleeing to the wilderness, he felt unworthy and ill-equipped for anything great.
When God called him from the burning bush to lead Israel out of slavery, Moses did not jump at the opportunity.
Instead, he said:
10 …“O my Lord, I am not eloquent …. I am slow of speech and slow of tongue.” (Exodus 4, NKJV)
But God responded:
11 …“Who has made man’s mouth?… 12 Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.” (Exodus 4, NKJV)
Moses’ weakness—his fear and his speech—did not disqualify him. It simply set the stage for God’s power to shine.
Gideon – The Insecure Warrior
When we meet Gideon, he is hiding in a winepress, threshing wheat in secret to avoid his enemies. He saw himself as small, insignificant—certainly not strong.
When God called him a “mighty, valiant warrior,” Gideon replied:
15 …[M]y clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.” (Judges 6, NKJV)
But God said,
16 …“Surely I will be with you, and you shall [e]defeat the Midianites as one man.” (Judges 6, NKJV)
With only 300 men, torches, and trumpets, Gideon led Israel to victory—not because he was strong, but because God was.
David – The Overlooked Shepherd
David was the youngest of eight sons, so overlooked that when Samuel came looking for the next king, his father did not even bother to call him in from the field.
Yet it was this shepherd boy—armed with only a sling—who stood before the warrior giant, Goliath, and declared:
45 …“You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.” (1 Samuel 17, NKJV)
David knew the source of his strength—it was never in his own might, but in the power of God.
Jesus – The Suffering Savior
And finally, look at Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He was fully God, yet fully human—and in that moment of deepest sorrow and agony, we see His humanity on display.
He cried out:
42 …“Father, if it is Your will, take this cup away from Me….” (Luke 22, NKJV)
But even in weakness, even in anguish, He surrendered:
42 … “[N]evertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” (Luke 22, NKJV)
Through His surrender came our salvation. The greatest strength the world has ever known was revealed in what looked like weakness.
These stories are not just inspiring—they are inviting.
Because if God can use a stuttering shepherd, a frightened farmer, an overlooked teenager, and a weeping Savior… then He can use us.
### **IV. Responding to the Truth**
So this morning, how will we respond to the truth?
First, we must admit and acknowledge our weaknesses. This is not a step of defeat—it is a step of strength. There is power in saying, “I cannot do this alone.” It is time to stop pretending we have it all together when, in reality, we are barely holding it together. Honesty and humility are the starting point to transformation.
Second, once we see ourselves clearly, we must invite God into our brokenness. Just like in those stories of old, God specializes in taking what is weak, wounded, or overlooked—and transforming it into something strong and beautiful for His purpose.
Third, when God steps into our lives, we must trust that His grace is truly enough. There is always a temptation to take credit for what only God can do. But true strength is found in surrender. We give Him the glory—not because we are strong—but because His strength shows up best in our weakness.
And finally, we need to surround ourselves with a community of grace and truth. God did not design us to walk this life alone. We were created for community—brothers and sisters who help carry the load, offer encouragement, and walk beside us. We need each other. That is part of God’s strength at work too.
So today, instead of asking, “How can I be strong enough?”
Ask this instead:
“Where is God inviting me to rely on His strength today?”
Let that be your prayer. Let that be your next step.
### **Conclusion**
So this morning, perhaps you're weary of trying to be strong enough—of shouldering the weight on your own.
Maybe you’ve been masking exhaustion, pushing through pain, and pretending everything's fine while you're falling apart inside.
Hear this clearly: you do not have to be strong enough.
God isn’t calling you to live in your own strength—He’s inviting you to experience His.
Your weakness is not a dead end—it’s the doorway to His power.
So release the pressure. Release the illusion that you must carry it all.
Surrender your weakness, and discover the power of grace.
Because when we admit, “I am not strong enough,” God whispers back, “You’re never meant to be—because I am.”
I want to share a song with you that talks just to that very point — Matthew West’s Strong Enough.
Let the lyrics wash over you as we affirm together: You are not alone. You are not lacking. You can face tomorrow—not in your own strength, but in His.
This is Strong Enough by Matthew West.
Video Ill.: Strong Enough by Matthew West https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knuHDPbE5es
