Friday, June 22, 2012

Why You Really Should Boast in Your Weaknesses


"Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 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."

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I must admit that I have always struggled with Paul's words here. 

Boasting about my weaknesses? Is that a typo? Shouldn't we rather boast about our strengths? 

Do people really want to hear about how I struggle with perfectionism?  

Wouldn't they rather know that I once wrote a 100+ page thesis or that I graduated from college magna cum laude? 

Do people really want to know how much I fear being "found out"?  

Do I really want them to see that I am not as "with it," as responsible, or as smart as I pretend to be?

No, but...

I believe people want to see us for who we really are, the good and the bad. It's what makes us real. However, we are generally reluctant to admit our weaknesses. I would much rather people believe that "I'm fine" than share with them my struggles. To do so seems burdensome. Not to me but to them.

But to really share our struggles, to admit that we need help sometimes, would actually strengthen us.  

Paul tells us that being weak is really a source of strength. Not that his weaknesses in themselves made him strong, but they provided more opportunities for Christ's power to rest on him. That ubiquitous thorn in his flesh was not only a source of torment for Paul, but also a wellspring of delight.  

In his weaknesses, Paul became strong because his "thorns" made him less self-reliant and more dependent on the Almighty

In his weaknesses--not his strengths--Paul's character developed, and he was better able to minister to others because he shared with them in their struggles.

Likewise, when we accept our "thorns" and actually boast in them, we, too, lean more on God and less on ourselves, becoming a more effective witness for Him.


Do you find it easy to share your struggles with others, or is it easier to hide behind a mask of "I'm fine"? What "thorns" can you delight in today?


Blessings to you,

 
Keri


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7 comments:

  1. Wow! What a wonderful post! I definitely delight more in my accomplishments than my weaknesses, though there are more of those. It's time to start practicing it the other way around.

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  2. I agree. I take much more pride in what few strengths I possess, and when I am struggling with something, I cover it up so others don't see it. I really need to stop hiding behind what Emily Freeman in "Grace for the Good Girl" {excellent book!} calls a mask of responsibility. I really need to let God in on my struggles and weaknesses more so I can rest in His loving arms instead of trying to pretend to be something I'm not.

    Thanks for commenting. Blessings to you!

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  3. I believe that being real is a necessary component of Christian fellowship and witness that is mostly missing. I love that song stained glass masquerade by Casting Crowns. I believe that when we open up and share our struggles we understand each other and help each other. It's sad that even in churches people are so judgmental that the sharing doesn't happen, or is met with criticizm rather than love :(

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  4. Just letting you know that this post was amongst the top most viewed posts on my linkup. I will be featuring you on Thursday :-) (along with your "What if She Doesn't Like Me?" post)

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  5. I know this was written almost a year ago, but today the world felt like it came crashing down on me. Suicidal thoughts ran through my head all day, but I know in my weakness I am made strong. I don't know what lead me to this post today but I Thank Him for your words. Thank you.

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    1. Thanks be to Jesus, whose love surpasses knowledge! I'm praying for you because God has a plan for your life even though right now you are in despair. Trust in Him. Cling to Him. Hope in Him. He will make your weaknesses your strengths! God bless you!

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