When Your Best Isn't Good Enough, Pt. 3

Have you ever woken up and wondered how in the world you were going to face the day? If you haven't, don't worry; your time is coming.

Several years ago, I was hiking with a friend. It was a much longer and steeper hike than I expected. Daylight was waning. As we trudged uphill, I reached a breaking point. Unless I got rid of my backpack, there was no way I would be able to keep going . Thankfully, my friend was able and willing to take it. My weakness presented itself ever so clearly. There was nothing I could do about it except ask for help.

It can be hard to admit that we are weak. The truth is, even the most mentally or physically tough person isn't as strong as we might think. "How can you say that, Jeremey?" you might ask. Because, ultimately, we're all susceptible to the curse on this world. Age, sickness, death, and sin—no one is immune to these.

Even some of the greats that we admire in Christendom had their weakness. Charles Spurgeon suffered from depression on occasion. Martin Luther did as well, as did many other ministers throughout time. John Calvin, it seems, was chronically ill. Honestly, it seems that the greater the impact a minister had, greater, too, was their weakness.

Paul is our prime example. We learn of his "thorn in the flesh" in 2 Corinthians. He understood that it was to keep him humble, but it was still a thorn. When Paul asked God to remove the thorn, God responded by telling Paul that His grace was sufficient. Paul's response?

"Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9b.

Paul understood, as I believe other great ministers of the Gospel did, that God is glorified by working through us despite our weakness.

"...for when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:10b

You see, it isn't our strength (pitiful as it is) that accomplishes anything, but God's. And His strength, it seems, is most shown through frail human beings. Whether because of their own internal issues or problems thrust upon them from outside, those who recognize their need of God, it seems, are used most mightily by Him.

Abraham was a liar and a fearful old man. Jacob was a deceiver as well. Joseph was a slave and a prisoner. Moses was fearful. Ruth was an outsider. David was a nobody and a shepherd boy. You get the picture, I hope.

And if we're honest, aren't we all weak? But so many of us are unwilling to admit it. Our pride and self-sufficiency keep us from humility before God.

So then, the truth is that, in our own strength, our best isn't good enough. But when we rely on God, we can say, as Paul did: "When I am weak, then I am strong."

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