Since you are still reading, I see the title did not turn you off… Many Christians strive to be strong for God, and they fail. They go along for awhile okay; then the world, the Devil, and their flesh drag them down. It is true that God wants strong Christians, but I dare say that most Christians are going about it the wrong way.
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. “ 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
This lesson is one of the first that God taught me as I started down the road of disability. It is taken from the second chapter of my book: Overwhelmed By the Storms? You see, disability is a simple word; it means not having the ability. For me it is a long list of things I can not do anymore. It was during this initial phase of losing ability, that God spoke to me in the verse above.
I had things that I had loved doing for God. In His perfect wisdom, He was taking those things away from me. I was not someone who wanted to quit pastoring or working for a church; those things delighted me. I had, however, no more strength to do those things. I felt like I was a weak Christian. My study on grace, brought me to this special verse on weakness. Notice what God says: My grace (God’s grace) is sufficient for thee: for my strength (God’s strength) is made perfect in weakness (my weakness). There is a condition for God’s grace and strength: it is my weakness. God knows my humanity, and He knows well my limitations. He created me with humanity, and limitations. God, knowing this, provided his grace and strength to allow me to be strong for Him – but only when I realized my weakness.
It may seem strange that Paul would glory in his infirmities; however, Paul had found out that those infirmities allowed God’s power to take over in his life. If you are strong, you do not have much need for any other strength. If you are weak though, you are looking for anything to help you become a little stronger. When God took my ability to walk normally away, He provided a motorized wheelchair for free use. Spiritually-speaking, as I handed over my weaknesses to Him, He took them and made them strengths. I have had the opportunity to share Christ with people I would have never met if I not had this disability.
You most likely do not have my particular disability, but all humans have adversity in life. We all have times when we are weak. Paul called those times pleasurable. Why would Paul call adversity pleasurable? It is only at those times that you need the hand of God in your life when you realize how great it is to have the hand of God in your life. If you never have a need, you would never need a blessing. What do you give the man who thinks he has it all? You can give him nothing.
Yes, God does want strong Christians, but the only way He can get them is to make them realize that they have need. God wants to strengthen you. God wants to fill you with His power. You, however, cannot put anything into a cup that is already full. We must empty ourselves of the thought that we can do it. We can and must be better Christians. It is time that we let the Holy Spirit use us as a glove. We must realize it is His grace and His strength that will get you through a day. He does not want you to try and do something for Him. Christians, we must stop trying. It is time we realize that without His grace and His strength we will always fail. You will fail at your marriage, you will fail with your kids, you will fail with your ministry, and you will fail in your relationship to God. Your kids, your spouse, and your ministry deserve more than someone trying their best! They deserve someone who is living with His grace and strength.
We must strive to be weak Christians. I am not talking about being lazy; I am talking about becoming a Christian who realizes that without God I can “do nothing.” Let’s become Christians who realized that, with God, everything He asks us to do is possible.
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