Weak Strength

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Weak Strength
Oh for the love all things dignified, I can’t believe I committed to meeting her every Monday and Friday for workout class. I hate workout classes. I love to run, but hate all indoor “cardio” created classes. I can’t stand watching my uncoordinated, disjointed, out of step, movements in a room covered in mirrors. The truth is, I hate admitting I can’t do something. I don’t like relying on someone else for help. I don’t venture far from the things I know I can do. I like to protect my public image of being pretty put together. So, workout classes don’t fit my required framework of remaining in control. But, I needed it. I had been avoiding the advice of my doctor to lift weights and build muscle for way too long. I needed to step out of my comfort zone and join a class in order to get the needed muscle building exercise my aging body required.
What I didn’t realize was that in order to get stronger your muscles must be worked to exhaustion first. Muscles get stronger after they have been broken down. Lifting weights, running long distance, doing squats all stress the muscles to the point of exhaustion. These damaged muscle fibers then fuse with new fibers creating repaired, stronger, thicker muscles. Weak muscles only get stronger when they are taxed beyond their normal range of motion and work. Classes forced me to work beyond what was comfortable to me.
Feeling weak, overwhelmed, and inadequate? According to 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, that is where God wants us to be because it is in our time of weakness that He is strong. When I have nothing left to give or nowhere else to turn, I am forced to depend on Him. My faith grows stronger when it endures being weak. My weaknesses force my faith to fuse closer to God and it is in this fusion His strength becomes my strength. I can only experience His strength when I allow myself to be weak. For me, that means I have to give up control. I have to let down my guard and the barriers I have set up to protect myself from pain, embarrassment, criticism, and failure and let Him work in and through me to become real and authentic with a vibrant faith.
So sweet friends let's start seeing weaknesses, both physical and spiritual, as a means of growing stronger. Let’s not hide our weaknesses, but use them to grow stronger in Him because His power is perfected in our weakness.
Dear Heavenly Father fuse your strength in us. We are so tired and weary. Use our time of weakness to show your strength to those around us. Draw us closer to you. Amen

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