When Your Weakness Becomes Strength

Since the beginning of time, it seems like success has been determined based on the dividing line of “the strong” and “the weak.” We learn to define our strengths and weaknesses with the idea that strengths are gifts and weaknesses are flaws. For so many of us that causes us to hide the areas where we are weak because, after all, who wants to put their flaws on display?

But for everyone, there comes a season when it seems like nothing is going right and your weaknesses are on full display. When the apostle Paul went through a time like that, he called it a “thorn.”

It was something that he prayed and asked God repeatedly to take away because it seemed like it was making him weak. Thankfully, Paul tells us how God answered him in 2 Corinthians 12:9.

“Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’”

Wow! God’s answer wasn’t to remove the weakness, but to allow Paul to see God’s sufficient grace. So often, this is the only thing that can provide real strength!

So, I want to give you three areas to focus on when your thorn seems to be unbearably pressing into you:

1.    Be weak and allow God’s Word to shape your perspective.

2.   Remember that you may impress people with your strength, but you connect with people in your weakness.

3.   Yes, the enemy wants to use your weakness…but so does God!

If any of those things seem too hard, remember you have a God that understands what you’re going through (see Hebrews 4:15).

Soli Deo Gloria,

Pastor Jerel Bland

The Hope Center Detroit | Director

Grace For Israel | Lead Coordinator

Pastor Jerel Bland serves as the Lead Director of The Hope Center which focuses on student-centered impactful experiences, inner-city community needs and venue space for positive driven events.