To hear this Morning Devotion, please click God’s breakfastThe power of weakness
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Sometimes I find myself facing challenges for which I don’t have clear answers.
Occasionally, I realize that not only am I unsure as to the answers, but that I’m not even sure of the questions that I need to ask.
If only my inadequacies stopped there.
There are even times when I don’t know the right answers, don’t ask the right questions and don’t have the mental/spiritual stamina to handle myself in just the right manner.
No, these are not comfortable moments.
Actually, they’re quite stressful.
In the big picture of my faith development, though, these moments are also quite useful.
For as I’m reminded that I am not my own deliverer through life’s woes, I am more likely to turn to the One who is able to deliver me, to strengthen me, to guide me, to teach me.
When I am weak, then — through Christ — I can become strong.
I was reminded of this truth this morning while reading from 2 Corinthians 13 in the One-Year Bible. It was intriguing to see how the Apostle Paul taught about the need for spiritual humility in order to gain spiritual strength.
In fact, his approach was powerfully engaging as he used the imagery of the cross.
“For to be sure, He (Christ) was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in Him, yet by God’s power will live with Him to serve you” (verse 4).
Wow. Even in His choice to suffer horribly and innocently in weakness, Christ knew that God would give Him the strength to endure before His death and give Him a new, empowered life after His death.
At the core of Christ’s confidence was the absolute conviction that God would restore Him and strengthen Him to serve the Father forever.
That same confidence can be mine. And as I learn to rely more on God and less on myself, the room for God’s power to dwell and work in my life grows and grows.
And so does my effectiveness for serving the people God places into my life.
Proverbs 3:5-6 tells me to trust in the Lord with all my heart rather than trusting in my own wisdom. As I surrender to Him in all my ways, He will direct my paths.
I like that promise.
For it tells me that God will lead me to where I need to be. I don’t have to worry about having everything already figured out and stored up in my backpack before I head down the path of life.
There’s no need for me to know all the right answers or even all the right questions and I certainly don’t need to think that I’ve got to have all the strength now that I’ll need years from now.
The fact is that God lifts and guides and sustains those who have chosen Christ as Savior. For when they come to Christ with confessed weakness, they are sent out with God’s power to those in need.
This is my desire as a believer. I pray that this will be your desire, too.
As always, I love you
Martin
