Strong In Weaknesses

Our weaknesses are often more useful to the work of God than our strengths. Consider the summary commendation of the faithful in closing verses of Hebrews chapter 11: “from weakness were made strong, and became mighty…” (11:34). 

These were not mighty in any way that the world counts as strong. They “experienced mocking and scourging, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground” (Heb. 11:36-38).

There is nothing here strong about any of that as the world counts strength—only a strong faith that God made great use of. So these folks have been an encouraging example to the faithful ever since. In every circumstance, just as God told Paul when he was dealing with his thorn in the flesh, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). 

God’s plan for our weakness is not removing us from all of the bad circumstances, or making us strong, but giving us sufficient grace and asking us to have a living and active faith. In this God might make great use of us.