“Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” ~ II Corinthians 12:10
REFERENCE:
If you can’t find any weakness, ‘disability,’ disadvantage, or flaw in your life, then maybe you are not human; you are a robot, perhaps. We all have an area of our lives that we wish was better, stronger, more beautiful, or better developed. Some desire to be taller, others to look better, be more intelligent, or wish they had a better family background. However, life is not always fair, and no man has it all together, but you can find strength in weakness.
Paul, the great apostle, had a weakness that he was ashamed of and vigorously prayed to God that He should remove it. Paul called it a ‘thorn’ in the flesh, a messenger of satan sent to buffet him. He was so conscious of this weakness that he thanked the Galatian church for not despising him for it: “And my trial which was in my flesh you did not despise or reject, but you received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 4:14)
Despite this ‘thorn,’ Paul found strength in weakness. He realized that God compensates for weaknesses by showing His strength through them. Despite his weaknesses, Paul was a great orator, writer, and church leader. The world abounds with stories of blind people who are music prodigies, deaf geniuses with the painting brush, crippled science masterminds, etc. Many people have discovered that weakness in one area is a pointer to strength in another.
Noriyuki Morita developed spinal tuberculosis when he was two years old. It was so severe that he was in hospital for nine years. Doctors said Noriyuki would never walk again. However, he later learned to walk again at age eleven, when a surgeon fused four vertebrae in his spine. As an adult, he gave up engineering to become a stand-up comedian. He became a very successful actor and was Oscar-nominated for his performance as Mr. Miyagi in ‘The Karate Kid.’
What are your weaknesses? Physical infirmity, slow comprehension, poor social or educational skills, a birth disorder, or a hostile environment? Look inward; you will find strength in weakness. You may struggle with unfavorable circumstances; yet, release them to God and trust Him to shape you through them. Your weakness may become a unique strength.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL TEXTS:
Psalm 118:22-23, Judges 14:14, and Psalm 139:13-15
PRAYER:
Lord, I thank You for making me who I am. You made no mistakes when You made me; You looked at me and said, “Good!” All my weaknesses are strengths in disguise. I will excel and become all You created me to be. I surrender every disadvantage or weakness in my life and circumstance to You; bring beauty out of them and let Your name be praised, in Jesus’ name.
Amen 🙏🏽