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Embracing your weaknesses

We all dread the typical interview question, "What are some of your weaknesses?" Of course this is a tough question to answer. Our prideful selves want to disguise our weaknesses as cliche responses like, "I'm a perfectionist" or "I work too much", when in reality we avoid exposing the attributes that could make us an unattractive candidate. We try so hard to live up to the standards of the world and do not like to own our weaknesses out of fear of rejection, embarrassment, or failure. Who would want to hire or use someone who appears unqualified?

Throughout the Bible, we see many examples of God using the lowly and the weak to carry out His mission. Moses was a terrible public speaker. David was a teen-aged shepherd boy with no military experience. Abraham was old. Matthew was a despised tax collector. Paul persecuted and killed Christians. Each one had their own weaknesses and seemed "unqualified" to do God's work. They were all aware of the flaws that, to them, were hindrances to their ability to be used by God. However, they were all commissioned to do great things for the Kingdom in spite of their weaknesses, and their stories remain as testaments of faithfulness to God's calling.

In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul teaches us a great lesson on humility and embracing our weaknesses. In fact, he goes as far as to say that he will BOAST about his weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through him (v 9). Who in the world wants to walk around boasting about things they aren't good at? That seems ridiculous. But as followers of Jesus, we learn more and more that what makes sense to us may seem ridiculous to the world. We recognize the upside down nature of God's Kingdom that shows us the greatest example of humility in Jesus Christ who came not to be served, but to serve (Matt 20:28) and did so with no earthly riches or wealth, no army, no weapons, and no medicine. Instead he came with a desire to carry out the will of the Father and relied on the power of the Spirit for strength.

Paul points out that if we focus too much on our strengths or experiences that contribute to our "righteousness", even if they are true, it creates opportunity for pride to rear its ugly head and lead us to believe that it was by our own efforts that we are able to have those experiences. We should always be thankful for the strengths God has given us and use them for the good things he planned for us. But, when we identify our weaknesses, accept them and actually embrace them, we allow the power of Christ to redeem those weaknesses and sanctify them for his glory.

Verse 9 says, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." This is Jesus' response to Paul all three times that he asks for the the thorn in his flesh to be taken away. This shows us that God does not always remove the pain or take us out of a certain situation when we think we cannot handle it. It is during those times of weakness when we feel helpless and out of control that we are to draw near to Him and come to him for help. That is when our focus shifts off of our imperfections and we begin to experience the magnitude of God's grace at work in our lives to strengthen us. We remember that we deserve much worse, and it's because of God's grace that we are restored to Him when we place our faith and trust in Jesus Christ, who can redeem all situations for our good and His glory. When we have these experiences we are reminded that no matter how difficult our circumstances may seem, God is still in control and he knows exactly what he is doing. Our submission to his will becomes easier and we become more aware of his presence, his provision for us, and his sovereignty over all things. Our trust in him is strengthened.

This is how he is glorified. If we recognize the areas of our life that are lowly and weak and see them not as obstacles, but as opportunities for God's overwhelming grace to be on display, he is glorified! We should take after Paul and boast to each other about our weaknesses to magnify the beauty of Jesus' redemptive work in our lives so that we can continue to encourage and bless others who are also struggling.

So, embrace those times of feeling inadequate. God's purposes for you are not circumstantial or based on ability. Turn to God and ask him for the boldness, guidance, and wisdom that only He can provide. Trust in His promise that He will never leave you or forsake you and be excited about the specific way He is going to strengthen your weaknesses to advance His Kingdom!

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