It might come across as a bit utilitarian and cold but as a preacher, I often find myself examining situations and experiences for how well they might do in a sermon. Certain stories can be great at illustrating particular truths, so I’m always on the lookout. That being said, the last week of my life will probably end up in a sermon someday. I won’t share all the details with you (I don’t want to spoil that future sermon!), but it will suffice to say there were few trips to the emergency room, a fractured rib, with a bout of strep throat thrown in there for good measure. It wasn’t as rough as many have it but I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
Two truths were hammered home to me during this experience. The first is that I am weak, terribly weak. I don’t mean merely physically weak, but wholistically, as a person. I might give off the air of strength or resilience but it doesn’t take much, a slip of the foot or some microscopic bacteria, to reveal my true and total fragility.
The second and related truth is that I struggle with being content with my weakness. As believers, the fact that we’re weak should not push us to become stronger. Rather, our weakness should push us to become more reliant. It should push us to trust in the strength of our Lord. This is the only place of strength and contentment.
“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
Do you know that you are weak? And are you content in that weakness, trusting in the Lord’s strength and grace to see you through?