In Romans 8.26 Paul writes:
“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” [TNIV]
My wife reminded me of this scripture over the last couple of days. Out family has been going through a very difficult time, and these words give me hope on a deep, personal level.
We are trained to be strong. Any sign of weakness is to be masked and disguised. “Never let them see you sweat.”
Yet, here Paul says that the Holy Spirit helps us, not in our strengths, but in our weakness. Weakness and frailty are not turn offs to God, they are invitations.
When we are weak, we are more likely to accept help. When we have no words, when we are speechless, we are more likely to receive God’s words.
In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul says, “9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” [TNIV]
Could it be that our so called “strength” is really just weakness? That our resting on our own power actually hurts us, makes us weaker? And could it be that the strongest that we will ever be is when we surrender to Christ in our weakness, and live not by our own power, but his?
So, this is what I am trying to do today. To trust Christ in my weakness, with my questions, with my doubts, with my pain.
Where do you need to be weak, so that you may actually be strong?
josh
Josh Scott 