Strength In Weakness

So, what is the purpose of weakness then, other than the obvious? Paul draws our attention to three things.

First, Satan’s mission in life is to buffet you or harass you. So it is OK to pray for relief. God does not delight in our suffering, but sometimes allows it to teach us surrender.

Second, God's purpose is to bring about humility. Paul was in danger of pride and self-exaltation so God took steps to keep him humble.

He will give us mountain top experiences, then bring us through anguish of soul just in case we think that we have risen above the need for total reliance on Him.

And third … as I already alluded to … God's purpose is to glorify the grace and power of his Son. God told Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

The lesson is that God will not get rid of all our weaknesses; but will give us strength to endure and even rejoice in tribulation.

John Piper of Desiring God.Org, wrote this about Strength in Weakness – “The deepest need that you and I have in weakness and adversity is not quick relief, but the well-grounded confidence that what is happening to us is part of God’s greatest purpose.”

what then should we remember as we move forward, which brings me to these last three points, which I actually began with.

First, God sees potential in every one of His own, His servants, which we are as believers in Jesus Christ. Second, we are encouraged to ask God for clarification, when He challenges us; and last, the Lord calls us to work to His plan, not ours.

Remember that God saw potential in Gideon, even though Gideon’s self confidence was severely lacking in substance. I don’t think he had much self esteem either. How did he respond?

“…my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least …”

Next … God did not get annoyed with him when he asked for proof that in fact it was the angel of the Lord speaking to him. God did exactly what Gideon asked to provide solid evidence.

And … God had the plan how Gideon would defeat the Midianite army, and you would have read about how his rag tag team got pared down to 300 men in the end, and the instructions they were provided on how to put the fear of God in the enemies.

What about you and me then?

Well … we know because we have heard and seen evidence of the fact that God in fact does see potential in everyone. We also find it easy to admit or confess to the evidence that God sees potential in someone else, but we find difficulty confessing to the fact that He sees potential in us personally.

Why is that? I would offer that it is a faith issue and only by asking for more faith, as Paul did on a number of occasions will we become stronger and will see and hear the voice of God.

Having said that, it is this next step that many Christians have difficulty with. I have heard solid Bible believing and preaching Christians say that we should just accept what God sends our way, without question. WRONG!