We wonder, “How can my weakness ever be beneficial to God?” Lynn shares with us just what a gift our weaknesses can be.
“He is not weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. For to be sure, He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by God’s power” (2 Corinthians 13:3b-4a).
In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul speaks about the thorn he carries in his flesh. He accepts it as a gift given to him to keep him from puffing up in pride. He is concerned for the Corinthians who are drifting from the ways of the Lord. He becomes stern in his admonitions toward them and their need of restoration.
This is background to my thoughts. We each know our weaknesses to sin and the gift we have to repent and receive forgiveness. We have examined, beyond measure, whether our physical ailments are bound to any wrong doings. We discover, rather, that they can be used to draw us closer to God and his strength. He desires for us to receive his loving faithfulness.
I recently read this phrase: “consecrated weakness.” It captured my imagination. At the time I read it, I was having an exceptionally weak day physically. How could my weakness be consecrated? I pondered the juxtaposition of the two words.
I can bring God my weakness, whatever forms it takes. Once surrendered to Him, He can consecrate my weakness, anoint it and make it sacred to Him for his purposes. My focus is to be in the surrender of the limited strength I have. It becomes a knowing and trusting that God’s strength is what I need and what I use to do anything that He asks of me.
In 2 Corinthians 2:9a, Paul received God’s promise, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” That is a promise for each of us, as well.
It remains a mystery to me that, though I feel so physically weak, God’s strength is helping me get through the day. There is strength to accomplish what I know, in the natural, would be impossible for me without Him. There is, also, strength to accept the days when all I can do is rest, the quiet days. This sacredness, touching me in my weakness, could only come from God.
Prayer: Lord, draw me in my weakness, to receive your strength. Help me to experience your touch of strength even though I do not feel strong.Together we will journey through each day as You bless my weakness with your strength. Amen.
About the Author:
Lynn Severance is a retired elementary classroom teacher. She lives in Lynnwood, Washington. She writes to encourage others as God has encouraged her during 30 years of living with daily physical challenges. Visit Lynn’s blog and sign up to receive new postings in your email box! http://lynn-severance.blogspot.com
Recall a time when you experienced God’s strength when you felt at your weakest, either physically, emotionally, or both. How can you describe that experience to a friend so that they understand it as a real experience? How do you transfer the promise, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”, and make it real in your life and circumstances?
Surrender, when we each want control over our own lives, is a challenge equal to the challenges we carry in our body and emotions. Here, in song, is a reminder why and how it is done, “On My Knees” with Twila Paris and Dennis Jernigan. (Did you know. . . it is Dennis’ wife who designs our HopeKeepers bracelets! Small world! They are quite an amazing couple.)
Lynn: I have to say I was very surprised at the title of your devotional today. Just yesterday God was majorly working on my heart about my willingness to be weak so He can work through me even more to help others. For the past few months I have been coming across 2 Cor. 2:9 everywhere I turn! God is so awesome in how He plans things out…yesterday I finally totally surrendered to God and gave up the drive that’s been pushing me to become healthy and normal again. I made the choice that I would rather remain weak and sick for as long as He sees fit, so He can work through me even more. I know He can heal me any time He so chooses, but at this point He is asking me to become weak so He can work through me. Thank you so much for this confirmation for me.
Fiona Burky
Fiona – I love reading your comments as I have known such times in my life when affirmations of an area where I have needed them, have shown up in various places!
I’ll add on one more piece of info’ so you can see how personal God is in your decision time of surrendering. This devotional was supposed to post 4 days ago but Lisa was having software glitches and no devotional was able to get out that day. Today – it is here just for you ( and hopefully others ) to be encouraged that you are in sync with His leadings.
I do think that He wants us to attend to as much as we can to keep ourselves healthy in body, mind, soul, and spirit. Yet I understand what you are saying – that in the areas where you are challenged and can not do anything, that is the place of surrender. It is hard – for all of us. And I know that I will keep coming back to this message myself when the tennis match of – “oh, I forgot that again” comes back to me.
Thanks for your comments. I know they will bless others who come here to read!
Love, Lynn
Lynn: Wow…reading about the delay in posting your article is giving me HUGE goosebumps and, I have to admit, a few tears. God is so wonderful in how He orchestrates everything!
Amen, Fiona – I totally agree!
Glad to see He uses my weaknesses too
What a WONDERFUL display of God’s awesome timing Lynn, Fiona & Lisa!! WOW!
I LOVED reading the devotional Lynn…..thanks! You write sooooo well.
Yep….it’s a constant see-sawing with me too, of accepting & embracing weakness, & being content in where God has me now…… & fighting, harassing & pushing myself (& God) to where I want Him to have me!! Wooh….that was a long sentence! LOL!
So often I find the Lord doing the most amazing things through my weakness. Hallelujah!
In terms of explaining weakness…..there are soooooo many types of weaknesses in me…..will only tackle physical exhaustion weakness. When going upstairs I feel like I’m carrying my husband over my shoulder with me…..I feel sooooo heavy! He quite likes that image! LOL! Lotsoluv Kerryn
@ Lisa – certainly not a weakness on your part that there was a glitch in the posting! It is nice that it worked for good for Fiona.
@Kerryn – always love your comments to me and to other writers. You are ever an encourager. I have come to experience that the tugging and pulling and learning and growing within the world of our individual physical challenges ( and the emotions that can come ) is always with us. See-saw being a good word. Somedays we are more on the upswing in acceptance even with no resolve and other days we are sitting on the ground wondering which way the move will go next.
Your image of how heavy it feels to walk upstairs is one I can relate to – even when not walking up stairs. Alas, no husband to give me a lift but I still like your analogy and I am sure he does, too as he then becomes an integral part of the journey ( which he is ).
Love to all!
Lynn
I just love it! From the devotional, to the timing of it, to the interchange of “sisters” here. This is what it’s all about. The whole thing just makes my heart grin from ear-to-ear. <3
<3 *Insert group hug here* 
((( BeBe )))
I am so glad you joined the “love fest” going on here.
We have created quite a bit of hearty ruckus, we friends on this journey!
Love,
Lynn
Well, here it is October 2nd, so you could say I’m reading this late. However, God’s timing is perfect. The last week has been one of struggling-yet again- with my chronic illness. It seems to be a cycle-the see-saw. For a while I do all right, accepting it, just doing what I can and being thankful for my blessings. Then comes that place in the cycle where I am tired of doing so little, tired of carrying the monkey of Fibromyalgia, finances etc. on my back and the cage that seems to surround me making my world so small. Of wondering about God’s call in my life and the passions of my heart. It’s nice to know that others share and know the struggles I go through. So thanks, Lynn, for using your gift of writing to encourage me once again. The prayer here is my prayer today, that God would help me to surrender the burden to Him and remind me that what may seem like a small act to me may be a big thing to someone else. Love, Tricia.
Hi Tricia,
As you can see from the thread of comments, timing has been key with those who read this message. I needed it when I wrote it. I needed it on the day it posted here. And I was doing fairly well today and just before your comment came in as a notice to me, my body just began to fade. So I come to the message again to make a comment to you – needing the reminder, too.
We are our own cycle of encouragement to one another around here.
I pray that you will feel a bit of an upswing more often than the downward one. I know it is very hard for all of us and knowing, as you said, we are not alone in the frustrations and the feelings can help us be strong in solidarity.
Love,
Lynn