Strong When We’re Weak (Pt. 1) — Morning Devotions

Subscribe to Morning Devotions podcast

And although that appears from our perspective to be a fairly dismal state of affairs, I like the amazing statement from the Bible from Paul the Apostles, and this is from 2 Corinthians 12:9, and this verse from Paul paints quite a different picture. It says that when we’re weak, we actually have the potential to be strong, and I’m talking about 2 Corinthians 12:9, and through Paul God says, my power shows up best in weak people. That’s from the living Bible.

Power and strength in weakness

Now, how is it possible to be strong when we feel weak or when we are weak? Does that really make any sense? Now, all of us have needs that we don’t want to admit to ourselves or if we can avoid it. I recall reading Archbishop Joseph Berardo from Chicago. He said that if we’re honest, we must admit that much of our time is spent pretending. But when we turn to God in prayer, we present our real selves. We candidly acknowledge our strengths and weaknesses. And our total dependence on him. Now I’m sure the archbishop was correct in that observation, and I’d like to suggest today that it’s in facing failure and inadequacy and weakness and need that these things really determine who we are. And too often we kind of put a wall around ourselves that says I am invincible. I’m not weak.

And I think really we’ve got to give up that pretense and learn to embrace our weaknesses. Now, you might have heard of Joni Eareckson Tada, I’ve spoken about her before. She was an American, or is rather an American Christian author, when as a teenager back in 1967, became a quadriplegic when she dived into a river and this terrible accident meant that she was paralysed. And unable to care for herself. So here was a strong young woman who suddenly became weak, depending on other people. She actually learned to paint by holding a paintbrush between her teeth, and this remarkable woman today has a, a worldwide ministry bringing hope to other quadriplegics. And she says this in one of her books.

Honesty is always the best policy, but especially when you’re surrounded by a crowd of women in the restroom during a break at a Christian women’s conference. Now one woman, she said, put on her lipstick and said, Oh, Joni, you, you always look so together. You’re so happy in your wheelchair. I wish I had your joy. And the other women there nodded, How do you do it? she asked as she put on her lipstick, I don’t do it, Joni said. In fact, may I tell you honestly how I woke up this morning. This is an average day, she said. After my husband Ken leaves for work at 6 a.m., I’m alone till I hear the front door open at 7, and that’s when a friend arrives to get me up. And while I listen to her make coffee, I pray, O Lord – my friend will soon give me a bath, get me dressed, sit me in my chair, brush my hair, brush my teeth and send me out the door. I don’t, Lord, have the strength to face this routine one more time. I’ve got no resources, Lord, she said, I don’t have a smile to bring into this day, but you do. Can I have yours, God, please? I need it desperately.

So she said, what happens when your friend comes through the, the bedroom door? One of them said. Well, I turn my head towards her. I give a smile. It comes from heaven. She said, It’s not my smile, it’s God.

And she said, as I gestured to my paralysed legs, Whatever joy you see today was hard won this morning. I have learned, she said, that the weaker we are, the more we need to lean on God, and the more we lean on God, the stronger we discover Him to be.

Now I think that’s a terrific statement and a great insight into this person, Joni Eareckson Tada. It’s remarkable, isn’t it, to see how God uses people like a lady who is today restricted to a wheelchair, a broken body, unable to move, but of course today her name is known throughout the world. So God in fact does use weak people, and tomorrow I want to just take it a little bit further.

Hope 103.2 is proudly supported by

Let’s Pray

Well, Heavenly Father, thank you today that so often these things are turned on their head. But Lord, help us to see that strength is actually found as we trust you. Amen.

Strong When We’re Weak (Pt. 2) — Morning Devotions