Our Weakness is strength in God

We were created by God, according to His plan, in love and with purpose -- weaknesses and all.  "God in heaven appoints each person's work." (John 3:27 NLT) 

We tend to view our weaknesses as liabilities.  However, since our worth does not depend upon us in any way, we can and must be honest about our weaknesses, knowing they do not diminish our value in the heart and mind of God but can, in fact, become the areas through which God does His greatest work.

"God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." (1 Corinthians 1:27 NIV)

Instead, we try to ignore weaknesses, hoping no one will notice.  We live in denial, assigning blame to others when we fail.  Eventually, we attempt to bury our weaknesses only to find them resurrecting themselves when we least expect it.  A powerful life embraces pain, brokenness and weakness and understands that perfection is for Heaven, not Earth. The words of Paul are profound, "God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." (1 Corinthians 1:27 NIV)

When we are honest about our weaknesses, we are conceding the fact that only God can accomplish anything good in or through us.  God's power is instantly recognizable in obvious weakness.  God has always allowed man's weakness to validate the immeasurable need of His redemption and His sufficiency in our lives.  He can and will use us if we allow Him to do so -- not despite our weaknesses -- but through our weaknesses.  We are not the message -- just the messenger.  Our weaknesses are not excuses to escape God's plan but divinely appointed opportunities for that plan to work.   

Noah was a drunk.

Abraham was too old.

Isaac was a daydreamer.

Jacob was a liar.

Leah was ugly.

Joseph was abused.

Moses had a stuttering problem.

Gideon was afraid.

Sampson had long hair and was a womanizer.

Rahab was a prostitute.

Jeremiah and Timothy were too young.

David had an affair and was a murderer.

Elijah was suicidal.

Isaiah preached naked.

Jonah ran from God.

Naomi was a widow.

Job went bankrupt.

John the Baptist ate bugs.

Peter denied Christ.

The Disciples fell asleep while praying.

Martha worried about everything.

The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once.

Zaccheus was too small.

Paul was too religious and Lazarus was dead!

(Author unknown)