I’m learning some things lately about strength. Have you ever noticed how often God brings the same theme up around you again and again when He’s beginning to wake you up to something you need to learn or submit to Him? There’s a number of verses in 1 Corinthians that present to us a paradox about weakness and strength. A paradox happens when two seemingly opposite ideas or situations are actually true together.
Let me show you what I mean…
“For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Cor 2:10 (NLT) Paul is finishing a thought he began regarding his own weakness, namely an illness or disease that God did not heal him of – even though Paul regularly saw others healed through his own prayer. Why would God do that? In his first book to the church in the city of Corinth – a very wicked city – he begins within his first few paragraphs with this statement “God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength… He chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.” 1 Cor 1 25-26
Why not just always reveal the fulness of His power, why not fix everything in our lives, why not heal us everytime we are in need? In those same parts of Paul’s letters we begin to see a little bit of God’s heart and mind regarding us. “As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.” 1 Cor 1:29 And about Paul’s illness God says “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”
I think God works in our weakness because we can’t help but point to God. When something doesn’t come natural to me, or I am in an overwhelming situation, or when I have nothing left to give and yet I do well, am victorious, or find strength each day I there’s no way I (or others for that matter) can point to me. I can’t write a book about the virtues of working harder (though we work diligently in God’s strength), having a stiff upper lip, or publish a facebook post about how I find strength in myself to face a new day. I am reminded of this truth… God’s grace is all I need, God is more powerful (stronger, skilled, loving etc.) when working through my weakness than I’ll ever be trying my best in my own ability – no matter if it’s an illness, area of growth, life situation… whatever! So lean into God when you can’t do it – there’s nothing He wants more than to enable you to study, work, parent better than you ever could. Lean into God when your body, mind, soul is tired because God never sleeps – there’s nothing He wants more than you to be strengthened by Him as you spend time with Him. Lean into God when you are sick or discouraged (ill in your body, mind, or heart) – there’s nothing He wants more than to reveal to you the joy and peace of a deep relationship with Him not dependent on what He does for you, but rather who He is to you.
His grace (favour, loving-kindness, mercy) is all we need, His strength is actually found to be greatest in our weakness.