Is Weakness a Bad Thing?
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
This verse is one of my favorites and it makes me think about the children’s song, Jesus Loves Me. The song states,
“Jesus loves me this I know. For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong. I am weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me. Yes, Jesus loves me, for the Bible tells me so.”
What does it mean to be weak in this context? Many times, being “weak” is a bad thing in our world, right? Weak people cry all the time, whine about everything, and can’t do things for themselves. The dictionary defines “weak” as “not strong; liable to break under pressure; fragile; frail.”
This verse is saying that weakness is a good thing, so how do we handle being weak in a world where we are supposed to be strong?
God calls us to be honest with ourselves and accept the reality of where we are and who we are as humans. We are weak. Compared to Christ and when we truly admit our need for Him, we are fragile and frail. On our own, we are liable to break. Our spirit and our soul cannot handle this world alone. The pressure to keep up, be happy all the time, move on, suck it up, and perform is just too great.
We need something more. That is why we often turn to things of the world to satisfy us and fill us. Consider what you often do when you’ve had a bad day, are disappointed, frustrated, or hurt by something – do you get lost on the internet, Facebook, or Instagram? Do you buy a new outfit or spend money on something? Do you buy your favorite treat like ice cream, a coffee drink, or candy? Do you take a nap, a run, or just watch TV to forget your feelings? Do those things make you feel better?
The problem with the world is that these things often do make us feel better for a little while. They work in the moment to distract us from our feelings, give us a little boost, or give us a false message that we are fine. What satisfies us one moment does not satisfy us forever, so we have to continue to “add to” the original thing.
What used to satisfy us does not work, so we are constantly having to make adjustments and additions to get this same feeling, ultimately giving us a numb feeling instead of true relief. This process puts our hope in things, and things cannot satisfy us completely. One outfit turns into two, three, four, and so on. The internet, social media, money, clothes, or other fun things aren’t bad.
However, they can become consuming and can take the place of that which can really, truly satisfy – God and His grace. God is enough. His grace is sufficient. That is the “fix” to the problem of finding strength and hope that will last.
Take away: When you are having a rough time, consider going to your bible, prayer, or a trusted friend that will point you to Christ. He is the answer. He can comfort you, help you to put things in perspective, and help you to heal from any hurts or pressures. Things of the world help a little, but leaning on Christ forms a strong foundation to stand on.