Strength in Weakness

A woman once wrote to me, “My marriage is failing. I seem to do everything wrong in raising my children. I feel like I am not worth anything to anybody. I’ve not been a very good wife, mother, or Christian. I must be the world’s worst failure.”

When men and women think they can do nothing right, God delights in using our failures. The kind of people the Lord is looking for are those who know that if anything good happens through them, it must be because of God. All the hotshot Christians who go about bowling people over with their great abilities never impress God.

God looked down on a scheming, base, weakling of a man named Jacob and said, “Fear not, you worm Jacob…I will help you… Behold, I will make you into a new threshing sledge with sharp teeth… You shall rejoice in the Lord, and glory in the holy one of Israel” (Isaiah 41:14-16, NKJV).

Men often use God to achieve fortune, fame, honor, and respect. Talent, personality, and cleverness are used to advance God’s kingdom, but God is not impressed. His strength is perfected in our weakness. We are unable to obey his commandments in our own strength.

God calls us to a life of holiness and separation. He tells us we can be free from the bondage of sin. His Word presents some impossible challenges: “Resist the devil. Walk in the Spirit. Come out from among them. Love your enemies. Leave behind all your fears. Put down your lustful desires. Let no sin have dominion over you.”

When you think honestly about how little you can do on your own to fulfill these challenges, you realize how very weak you are. Your heart begins to cry, “Lord, how can we do such great, holy things?” That is when our Lord takes over! He comes with such a comforting message: “Lay down your weapons. Quit trying to be so self–sufficient and strong. I am your weapon and your strength. Let me do what you never can do. I will give you my righteousness, holiness, rest, and strength.”

Beloved, we cannot save ourselves or please him in any way other than by receiving the blessings of the cross by faith. Today, let him be in charge of your growth in holiness.