As a red blooded American male, there are several things that I naturally believe. Things like: “every restaurant has free refills,” “bacon goes on cheeseburgers,” “full contact backyard football is just how the game is played,” “baseball is the only constant good in the world (excluding anything wearing pinstripes), ” and “weakness is just pain leaving the body.” The latter one is something that seems innate not only in the western world, but in the Middle East as well. In the Muslim mind, weakness is not respected, it is not honoring to ones family, or community.
This got me thinking. Why is weakness a negative idea? Personally, I hate showing weakness in anything. I would almost rather lie than appear weak. I think the technical term is American male ego. God has been molding in such a way that the thinking patterns I came here with, have drastically changed. The knowledge that so many things are “not known” requires weakness and humility in order to truly trust. Understanding weakness is something I am working through. When things like Arabic study, spiritual warfare, disappointment in a close friend, and questions with answers that seem to be hidden combine on one person, weakness seems to fill the mind and body.
What I am learning however is that weakness is not pain leaving the body. It is when pain has entered that one becomes weak. Only then can that weakness bring forth humility. Only then can the knowledge of a sovereign God take hold. In the words of Paul, only then can God’s power be made perfect in my weakness (2 Cor. 12:9).
I don’t think the point is the to get over our weakness. I think the point is to accept that is who we are. We are weak, fragile, depraved humans. That is reality. We have a strong, unbeatable, lovingly gracious God. This is a greater reality, and one that we undermine with our view of weakness. Combine those two very true realities, and weakness is a blessing, not a pain or trial that one gets through. Weakness is becoming a way of life, and ironically, I happen to really like where it’s taking me.
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