I found this little article buried in my email that I wrote a year ago, and I was encouraged to look back at this moment of my life and see how God was working in me. I hope it might encourage some of you as well! We live in a culture that values being strong. The ladies are told to be “strong women.” Strong men are more respected than weak men. We aim to have the attitude of warriors and conquerors of life’s challenges. Men and women alike spend hours in the gym strengthening and toning their physical bodies. There is nothing wrong with being strong, but there is a greater strength that comes only in weakness. Sometimes our own “strength” is a mere cover for weakness and insecurity that we know truly lies beneath the surface. All the positive thinking in the world can't change what's really there. God said “My power is made perfect in weakness,” and this has been a theme in my life the last couple of weeks as God is teaching me to rely on His strength. I’ve been struggling with feelings of inadequacy for life’s demands: Demands of my marriage. Demands of my job. Demands of trying to keep with the housework. Demands of planning ahead for the future. The more effort I put in, and the more I aim to please, the more I seem to fall short. When I feel like I’m giving it all I’ve got, and still not meeting the expectations of myself and others, it’s very discouraging. What more can I do? I’ve heard similar stories from women who have struggled to keep up, and I know my story is not unique. These other woman talk about how they were trying to do things in their own strength, when they should be relying on God’s strength. Intellectually I understand that, but spiritually and practically, I haven’t known how to grab hold of that truth and make it a reality in my life. I think it’s my time to embrace what God is trying to teach me in this area. At a time when I need it most, everywhere I turn, I’m being sprinkled with Scripture and truth about how God helps us in our weakness. Friends and family have been posting Bible verses on Facebook. The music at church included lyrics about our weakness and God’s strength. Radio sermons have been about it. God wants me to hear this right now. I’m learning that the more I come to terms with my own limitations and weaknesses, the more I can boast in God’s strength when He comes through for me. Having an attitude of humility rather than a souped up “Strong woman-I-can-conquer-the-world" mindset is both more honest and freeing to the soul. "And He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." 2 Corinthians 12:9
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AuthorFull time office worker, full time wife, and full time lover of Jesus. I'm kind of a Bible nerd, and I have a passion for finding ways to introduce Jesus in a practical way to everyday people doing everyday things. Archives
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