Can My Weaknesses Really Be Gifts?
/Recently, I was listening to a New Testament podcast where the hosts shared the story of Christ healing the man who had been blind since birth. In this story Christ’s disciples ask him if this man was born blind due to his own sin or due to the sins of his parents. Christ responded by saying that neither the blind man had sinned nor his parents, but that the works of God should be made manifest in him (John 9, KJV). The podcast hosts then explained that our weaknesses are actually gifts from a loving God who knows how to work with us in mortality and how to make our weaknesses become strong.
I don’t recall ever hearing anyone refer to weaknesses as gifts from God. To my ears this sounded like blasphemy. Were they really saying that because God loves me he gave me weakness? That doesn’t sound very loving to me. Especially when one of my weaknesses has been an addiction to lust. My entire life, I viewed my weakness for lust as something very bad, even shameful. I believed that God was disappointed in me because every time I tried to overcome this weakness on my own I would inevitably succumb to it’s pull. I felt like I was broken and that I needed to hide my weakness from others at all costs.
Ever since I heard this podcast, I’ve been pondering on this topic. I thought about what it would look like if I viewed my weaknesses as gifts from God. What would it mean? Through this contemplation I’ve started to realize that maybe I’ve misunderstood God and His love all along.
I’ve always loved the scripture from 2nd Corinthians chapter 12 (KJV) where Paul asks the Lord 3 times to remove the thorn from his flesh (his weakness). Instead of giving Paul what he wants, the Lord responds in the first part of verse 9, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” And I love Paul’s response in the later half of the verse, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
My journey through struggling with an addiction to lust has brought me to the reality that on my own I am truly powerless over this weakness. But when I humble myself and turn to God for His help, He is able to give me the grace I desperately need. I feel connected to Him and I can feel His power in my life.
When I feel connected with God my fears are gone and my weaknesses don’t feel overwhelming anymore. I’ve started to realize that if I didn’t have my weaknesses I don’t know that I would need God in my life as I would have no need to turn to Him. As I started viewing my weaknesses in this way I’ve come to the realization that God does love me and wants to connect with me.
I have realized that God does not view weaknesses the same way that I did. He is not repulsed by nor afraid of them. I’m beginning to realize they are some of His greatest gifts in shaping and training me. If I allow them, the weaknesses He gave me turn me to Him so we can connect. In this way my weaknesses do feel like gifts from a merciful and loving God. I’m grateful that He loves me enough to give me such gifts.
What now?
List out your weaknesses - by overcoming them, what additional strength, compassion, and blessings will you have?
Pray to God for the desired blessings and to accelerate your learning and healing if it be His will.
By Seth, Writing Team