Strength in our Weakness Part 1

What does it mean to Be Strong?

There are different kinds of strength. There is physical strength; there is strength of will; there is strength of mind. We know strength when we see it. Still, how do we quantify it when we see it being displayed? We can only explain strength when it is contrasted with weakness.

Strength in Weakness

Al McGuire was a hall of fame basketball college coach. He coached many young men during his tenure and helped them to graduate. After retiring he would keep in contact with many of his former players. Towards the end of his life, he was diagnosed with leukemia. His son Allie McGuire tells the story of his father as he lay dying in the hospital. During that time, many of the men whose life the coach impacted would come to visit him. He would get out of bed and sit in a chair in his room with them. They would laugh, reminisce and catch up on current events in the players’ lives. After they would leave, he would be so weak that he could not make it back to bed without assistance from his son. Finally, one day his son said to him, “Dad, you don’t have to do this.” Coach replied, “Yes, I do. I am doing this for them. They need to remember me as having been strong”.

No one wants to be seen as weak. Unfortunately, it is inherent in the human condition. Any strength we possess is capped. No matter how strong we may believe ourselves to be, it will always have a limit. It is Finite in terms of its capacity and its duration. For example, there will always be a rock that we cannot move. And with the passing of time, our strength is always diminishing. Our strength does not last.

The Secret to Being Strong:

In 2 Cor. 12:9, the Holy Spirit gives us insight into

1. Our need for strength

2. What it means to be strong

3. The source of true strength

Our Need:

In this verse we are told that God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. The root of the Greek word used for weakness is the word “asteneses". This particular word is sourced from the word "Alpha”. Alpha means the beginning. Here is what The Lord is telling us about the fundamental nature of our weakness. We did not become weak. We started out as weak. Neither did we grow weak over time. We were always weak. We are always in need of a strength that we do not inherently possess.

Strength Defined:

God speaks of His strength being revealed through our weakness. The word used for strength means to be able by ability and permission. (In other words, I might have the ability to do something, but not have the authority to do it). It is an inherent power that resides by virtue and nature. There is no weakness in God. He is able.

The Source:

The strength that we need is always sourced outside of ourselves (John15:5). There are things that God is calling each of His children to do. We can only accomplish them through the strength that He provides (Phil. 4:13). His strength is made available to us through and by His grace.

Thoughts to Grow On:

Are we trying to accomplish God’s will through our own power and ability?