Day 35 – God’s power in your weakness

God loves to use weak people

We are all flawed and imperfect - baggaged with physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, financial and relational limiting weaknesses. Usually we deny our weaknesses, defend them, excuse them, hide them, and resent them. We think that God only wants to use our strengths; but He also wants to use our weaknesses for His glory. God loves to use imperfect, ordinary people to do the extraordinary things in spite of their frailties or any other inherited limitations; or that which they are powerless to change – God is never limited by our limitations!

+ Admit your weaknesses.

Instead of living in denial or making excuses, take the time to identify your personal weaknesses – make a list. You are only human; surely you can admit your shortcomings to yourself?

+ Be content with your weaknesses.

Being content with weakness doesn’t seem to make sense – don’t you think? But this contentment is an expression of faith in the goodness of God. Whenever you feel weak, God is reminding you to depend on Him – weaknesses prevent arrogance, keep us humble, keep our egos in check and govern us from going too fast and running ahead of God – He deliberately allows them in your life for the purpose of demonstrating His power through you. Furthermore; our weaknesses encourage fellowship between believers and increase our capacity for sympathy and ministry. Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts – the things you’re most embarrassed about, most ashamed of, and most reluctant to share – the very tools God can use most powerfully to heal others.

+ Honestly share your weaknesses. (Saw this one coming, eh?)

The more you let down your guard, take off your mask, and share your struggles, the more God will be able to use you in serving others. When you do reveal your failures, feelings, frustrations and fears; you risk rejection – but the benefits are worth the risk. Humility is not putting yourself down or denying your strengths; rather it is being honest about your weaknesses. 

Pretentiousness repels but authenticity attracts, and the vulnerability is the pathway to intimacy. Our strengths create competition, but our weaknesses create community. You can impress people from a distance, but you must get close to influence them – the most essential quality for leadership is not perfection, but credibility.

 

+ Glory in your weaknesses.

Instead of posing as self-confident and invincible, see yourself as a trophy of grace – fill your heart with praise for Jesus, who understands every weakness and for the Holy Spirit, who helps us in our weakness. If you want God to bless you and use you greatly, you must be willing to ‘walk with a limp’ for the rest of your life, because God uses weak people; and none of us can be perfect!

Come share in my imperfection… Love ~ Stafford

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” -Romans 15:13