Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. Romans 8:26
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Weakness. Something all of us don’t like in us or others. Yet… God sees our weakness differently, especially when it is yielded in honesty and confession before Him. When we are weak and know it, and confess it, then He can work with us. Why? It has to do with humility, and our pride and stubbornness. God and pride do not mix. (Read Proverbs 6:16-19) Our confession of weakness in humility before Him puts us the right ‘posture’ with God. The Holy Spirit then can work with us because we are much more willing to listen to Him. We don’t cast out His Voice when He suggests things to us in our minds. Humility allows us to listen. Pride sets us up into arrogance thinking we know we are right. ‘Haughty eyes’ – I believe is how the translation is into English from the Hebrew which is part of the 7 things that are an ‘abomination’ to Him. Sounds pretty severe to me.
How do we work on the discipline of growing real humility within us? One of the ways I work on it is through the exercise of gratefulness. Not just gratefulness I see but being grateful for the things the Holy Spirit brings to my mind. Like … my heartbeat, breath, health, life, and ability to function, walk, see, hear, smell, taste, and touch. There are SO many things we take for granted UNTIL you lose them or that they become much more difficult. Age is quite the teacher. More and more I am not able to do those things I use to physically. My eyes aren’t as sharp as they use to be, I’m deaf in one ear, and my body isn’t as elastic and quick to heal as it use to be. Yet… I am even MORE grateful for those things… as I realize more and more what it is to loose… what I use to have and be able to do.
Gratefulness helps put my mind into the right frame. My confession of my weakness allows me to be grateful for all God has done and doing for me presently. In honest prayer we run out of words — and with great heart we are moved by the Holy Spirit who will intercede for us. Suffering and persecution is made easier to endure by my attitude of gratefulness to God. I know of His love for me and His promise of the life to come — through His love divinely implanted by His hand into my soul.
Can you say you can be ‘content’ with your weakness? Has He shown Himself to be strong in you — when you confess how truly how weak you are?
I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5