You Don’t Have to Wait for God to Make You Strong

Encouragement for anyone who thinks they’re too weak to be part of God’s plan.

First, a word about the movie my family made about the zigs and zags of my early years and how I finally gave my life to the Lord:

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THE BLIND shares never-before-revealed aspects of Phil Robertson’s life as he seeks to conquer the shame of his past, ultimately finding redemption in an unlikely place.

Get updates, trailers, behind-the-scenes moments, and special opportunities from our team here:

** theblindmovie.com **

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Now, in my mind, I’m a very average (even normal) person. But from what I hear, a lot of folks apparently disagree with my self-assessment. People have told me I’m eccentric and obsessed. I prefer adjectives like unique and focused.

How others view me stopped being my primary motivation a long time ago. The way I see it, when I gave my life to Christ all those years ago, I gave it all to him. I have prayed for him to mold me and use me in any way he chooses. At this stage of the game, I sort of am what I am. I’m not saying that God is finished with his molding process, but I don’t anticipate that my personality is going to become much different than it is right now. I guess he can use eccentric people too.

The apostle Paul had something in his life that he pleaded with God to change. No one knows what it was, but Paul described it as a thorn in his flesh. Was it a particular temptation? Or maybe a medical issue? Was it his personality? 

No one knows what his “issue” was. We do know that he fervently prayed three times for God to remove it, but after he finished begging God to change the circumstances of his life, the thorn’s tormenting didn’t stop. 

What God told him in response tells us everything we need to know about what kind of people God uses to advance his kingdom. He told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10)

What a novel idea! Any human construct that lays out a blueprint for kingdom building would begin with finding strong men to forcefully advance the borders of that kingdom by exercising human power. But according to Paul, God values the weaklings among us. This is the reason God gave Paul for not extracting the thorn from his flesh. He wanted no one to be confused about who the real strong man behind his kingdom was.

In other words, it wasn’t Paul but the mighty power of the mighty God that fueled this kingdom’s border expansion. Paul, if he was anything, was only a messenger and ambassador that God would use to make his case to the world that he, and he alone, is worthy of man’s worship and adoration. 

Paul, a mere weakling preaching the kingdom of God to a world obsessed with strength. And God said, “You are just the ambassador I have been looking for.”

Go figure!

I’m telling you this because I run into people every day who think that they can’t fit into God’s eternal plan to lead others to him. But if you’re one of these people, I’d encourage you to read this passage over and over until you get it. 

You will discover that, not only can you be used, but weak people are the only people he uses to preach his name to a confused and chaotic world. As with Paul, his grace is more than enough for you.

So lay down your hesitation as you wait to be made strong before you step out and preach Jesus. Preach his name now — not in spite of your weakness, but because of it. His power is made perfect in weakness. If this is you, just know that God has you right where he wants you. 

Image credit: Elias | Pixabay