Weakness

It is amazing what a new sound system can do for a bad voice. It does wonders! Not the least of which is to improve one’s confidence. I will use a personal example, because I am way past being offended (Or at least I think I am…maybe I will soon find out!). Ever since Kindergarten (yes, some of our curses go way back) I have been told that I can’t carry a tune in a bucket. My Jr. High choir director told me not to sing too loudly in the youth choir- I was off key. And, in college, one of my dorm mates was a music major. For part of her graduation requirements, she had to give formal voice lessons to someone for 8 weeks. I, of course, volunteered. After the second or third week of lessons, my friend wondered if we needed to continue. I won’t give all the details, but let’s just say that “No hope for you” did enter the conversation!

It is interesting, then, that I should find myself singing (in front of people) with my buddy Charlotte, and trying to lead in the congregational singing. I know part of the reason, and someday the details may come out, but it is really because when we have little, and we say to God “take all that I have and am and make it yours”, then God does take whatever we have and are, however small and insignificant and uses it for His glory. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, says that God’s grace is sufficient for us, and that His strength is made perfect in our weakness. God takes our weakness and does great things with it. He does this not to better us, but to bring glory to Him. If we stay moldable in His hand, He will use everything we are for His glory! Amen and halleluiah to that!!

All we need are little nudges to continue giving Him all of us. A friend once said to me, “What really drew me to you at the beginning were your spiritual insights.” I looked around to see who my friend was really talking to. My spiritual insights??? I didn’t think I had any! But, do you know what that comment made me do? It made me get deeper into the Word and ask God for wisdom and understanding so that I would have some spiritual insight to share the next time I saw my friend.

So, where is all this going? A little encouragement goes a long way. If we can notice even the small, seemingly insignificant things that those around us are struggling with, or trying to do; if we can notice a quality or gift that another seems to have, and encourage them in that, it may prompt them to give that area and part of them to the Lord for His glory. They may not notice that they have a certain talent or flair for doing something. They may, in fact, have been told that they don’t have a talent or are not good at that, but remember it is in our weaknesses that God’s grace abounds and His strength is manifested. God doesn’t want strong people who are able to do it all for God. He wants people who realize that without God they are NOTHING, but with God and because of His grace in their lives, they are enabled to be strong and do anything. God wants His people very strong-- in Him. (See Philippians 4:13)

The world will not encourage us to give our weaknesses to the Lord. Weakness to the world is something to be gotten rid of. It is no good. In the weight room of the high school gym, next to the “No Pain, No Gain” sign is another one that says that pain is weakness leaving the body. We don’t want weakness. But God does. He says, give me your weakness and I will show My strength through you. This is not so people will see how wonderful we are and give glory and honor to us, but so people will see how great our God is, what He can do with a life, and give glory to Him. Indeed, His grace is sufficient for us, and His strength is made perfect in our weakness.