When someone asks you to describe who you are, do you begin by revealing all of your weaknesses? Probably not. We like to downplay those as much as possible or make them seem like they don’t exist at all. And occasionally, we believe the illusion ourselves. But the truth is, no matter how much of a super star we are, we all have weaknesses. How does it benefit us to pretend that we are without a weakness?
Do you feel like you’re always the only one working on projects either at work or at home? Does no one else care about the things you care about? If this is you at all, it is possible that you’re downplaying your weaknesses. It’s hard to help someone who needs no help. After all, you’ve got this, right?
If that’s the way many of us cruise through our physical lives, chances are, our spiritual lives run pretty parallel.
Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. (Romans 8:26a, NKJV)
God looks at us and evaluates the areas where He made us awesome and we are excelling beyond even His expectations and THAT’s where He sends His Spirit to help. NOOOOO!
9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-11, NLT)
Leave it to Paul to explain this so even I could understand it on a new level. You gotta love a guy who can be real. And that’s exactly what God is waiting for us to be. REAL.
If you feel like God is only exposing your weaknesses, maybe it’s because He’s sending the Helper your way. He’s wanting us to call out to Him for guidance. But if all we do is pray for everyone else’s problems (because we are blind to our own) then we’re missing out on the help, strength and POWER God wants to unleash for us.
ASK—What are MY struggles? Where do I need help? What characteristics am I pretending don’t exist? What are MY weaknesses?