CHFWeb: Our Weakness, His Strength-Quotes to Ponder

Our Weakness, His Strength

I spilled green mouthwash on our brand new carpet. I was devastated. For almost 6 months we had been trying to sell our home. The new carpet had been a big improvement, and big expense, and now it had a green stain that wouldn't come out. I sobbed, not only because of the spot, but because I was at the end of my strength.

It may be surprising, but moments like these should make us even more thankful as Christians; they should fill us with rejoicing! Charles Spurgeon wrote ...

Let this one great, gracious, glorious fact lie in your spirit until it permeates all your thoughts and makes you rejoice even though you are without strength. Rejoice that the Lord Jesus has become your strength and your song--He has become your salvation.

I personally don't like to feel utterly weak. I played field hockey when I was younger and one summer I trained particularly hard for the upcoming season. Every day I would run, lift weights, and do strength and endurance exercises. That season I sprained my ankle. It seemed unfair after all my training. Looking back, it was during this time that I saw how self-centered I had become. I took time to cheer teammates, to notice the hard work the coaches and assistants did, and to appreciate the devotion of our parents and friends who came and cheered us on at each game.

I have let my weakness defeat me at times. My focus gets stuck on myself and on my circumstances, not on Jesus Christ. Andrew Murray describes the thought process of a Christian compared to the Lord's in his book, Abide in Christ ...

The Christian often tries to forget his weakness: God wants us to remember it, to feel it deeply. The Christian wants to conquer his weakness and to be freed from it: God wants us to rest and even rejoice in it. The Christian mourns over his weakness: Christ teaches His servant to say, "I take pleasure in infirmities; most gladly will I glory in my infirmities." The Christian thinks his weakness his greatest hindrance in the life and service of God: God tells us that it is the secret of strength and success. It is our weakness, heartily accepted and continually realized, that gives us our claim and access to the strength of Him who has said, "My strength is made perfect in weakness."

When you feel your strength is sapped, remember and rejoice! Join me in this prayer from Ken Gire's book, Windows of the Soul ...

Help me, God,

To realize it is in being crippled that I learn to cling,
and in limping that I learn
to lean,
that victory comes not in how courageously I struggle
but in how completely I surrender,
and that this is how I am to grow,
by being defeated,
decisively,
by constantly greater things.
Help me to understand that Your power is perfected in weakness,
so that when I am rendered weak,
You are given the opportunity to be shown strong.

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. - Romans 5:3-6

But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. - 1 Corinthians 15:10

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. - Deut 31:6

Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD. - Psalm 31:24

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. - Matthew 28:18

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. - Ephesians 6:10

February 4, 2000
© 2000 by Kathy Ridpath
Please ask for permission to reprint this article, ridpath@chfweb.com. Thank you!

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All of Grace
by Charles H. Spurgeon
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Abide in Christ
by Andrew Murray
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The Windows of the Soul
by Ken Gire
Ken Gire encourages us to listen carefully for the Lord Who speaks to us through "everyday experiences." - Kathy Ridpath
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"And all thy children shall be taught of the Lord;
and great shall be the peace of thy children."
Isaiah 54:13