How To Handle Our Weakness
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“My grace is sufficient for you” 2 Corinthians 12:9
We live in the fitness age. For the body, we have gyms and diets. For the mind, we can choose from myriad how-to books as well as seminars about thinking positively and ridding ourselves of bad habits. The truth is we all have one, two, or more weaknesses to confront. In the Bible, we find wise counsel for how to handle these areas of our life.
If you look honestly at yourself, you can identify what you think is your weakness. It could be physical disability you were born with or developed, or it could be emotional, mental, or spiritual. Whatever it is, Paul’s words apply to you. The first thing to do is acknowledge the presence of the weakness. Secondly, it is important that you recognize the purpose of frailty. Paul says his thorn in the flesh was given to keep him from exalting himself. His weakness was preventive maintenance on the part of God, who knew that dependence kept Paul’s pride in check.
We should consider what our weakness says about us. For example, if a person struggles with dishonesty, a close analysis of his thinking might reveal that the real problem is a fear of rejection. To protect himself, he will lie his way out of threatening situations. But by giving in to his weakness, the dishonest man reacts improperly. Other wrong responses to weakness are ignoring it, denying it, or excusing it. The only right response is to remember the promise of God, “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9). His words to the apostle Paul are meant as an encouragement for every believer.
Question: What is one of your weaknesses that God may actually use for His own great purposes?
About this Author: Charles Stanley
This is an excellent article. I’m a witness of this and I have to leave this comment in here. If we ask the Holy Spirit to show us the areas we need to work on, He is faithful and loving to show them to us, and even though they embarrass us because it’s not pretty to look into our shortcomings. Personally, he has shown me 3 weaknesses in dreams, and I’ve been for ever thankful, because then we know what to pray for, which areas to be aware of and every time I’m near situations that have to do with these 3 areas I remember his faithfulness and my accountability to him, because now… I know.