Have you ever sat in an interview in which the potential boss asked you what are your weaknesses? It’s a standard interview question; however, the interviewer really doesn't want to know how you will adversely impact the company, rather, if you are humble enough to recognize areas in need of growth and how you plan to rectify those areas.
This would be an example of how the world would answer the topical question of this article, yet for the Christian, it is not a biblical answer.
Let us turn to God’s word for the biblical answer to such an oxymoronic question.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 sums it up perfectly, “But he [God] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (CSB).
Who Defines You?
Stop and truly ask yourself — who or what defines you? Meaning if I were to ask you the one thing that folks know you for and you take pride in, what would that be? Is it your job title or your financial portfolio? How about your kids? Your athletic prowess, perhaps? Or is it Jesus — the Messiah, the Savior, and lover of your soul?
About 20 years ago, I was a new Christian of a little less than two years and a college freshman where I had signed to be a softball player. Strength training was my absolute favorite. I loved the feeling of being strong and the confidence that came with that.
Listen closely — there is absolutely nothing wrong with strength training or being a strong woman. Sin entered in when my identity was rooted more in my strength than in Christ and what He had done for me.
Pride of self. Satan has done a phenomenal job within our culture of making it a worthy goal of achievement “to take pride in…” your work, your house, your kids, your appearance, your country, your race, etc. We are called to be diligent in the stewardship of the blessings we have received; however, we are not to take pride in them.
If we are so focused on our strengths, then we risk being blinded by pride. That can result in a self-sufficient mentality. Why, then, would we even need the Savior? Paul realized that where weaknesses abound there is room for the Holy Spirit to work drawing us closer to Jesus.
Boasting in Christ
Being puffed up or proud is not a new issue that we face; though, in the age of social media, it has exponentially magnified our audience. During a quick little search on Instagram, I found that hashtag strength had 45.7 million posts and hashtag strong had 66.1 million.
There were other related hashtags that were upwards of 400 million posts in which people boasted of physical ability. I’m guilty of boasting myself — hashtag proud mom anyone? One of my favorite songs that used to give me goosebumps whenever it was played, “God Bless the USA,” now fills me with heavy confliction.
There is immense gratitude to God for the freedom we enjoy, yet I am deeply grieved that many Christians within America boast of their patriotism more than their allegiance to God. Ask yourself — are you an American Christian or a Christian who lives in America?
This can be applied to any identifier. Where you put that adjective tells greatly of where your strength and identity lie.
Simultaneously in church culture today, we see those keen with mental fortitude lauded as superior, much like the “super-apostles” that were leading the church plant of Corinth astray (2 Corinthians 11:3-15).
Today, far too many immature Christians are being wooed away from sound biblical teaching to chase after leaders who promote the heresy of health and wealth as gospel. These leaders, or wolves, may be more successful by the world’s standards — charming, eloquent, wealthy, fitting in so neatly into the world that they are unable to be differentiated.
But is that the way Jesus lived? Is that what Jesus taught? No and no.
Jesus taught that He is “the vine, [we] are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me” (John 15:5).
Ask yourself if the fruit you are bearing resembles that of Jesus or the world. If the latter, then take time to pray, read 1 John 1:9, and seek repentance. Praise the Lord for His faithfulness!
Thorn in My Flesh
The Apostle Paul knew that boasting in anything of himself was foolish, so when the time came to offer credentials of his apostleship, he laid out a lengthy resumé of circumstantial weaknesses that he had endured at the hands of opposition for the sake of Christ (2 Corinthians 11:23-30).
Later in 2 Corinthians 12:7, we see that he even received a “thorn in the flesh” that the Lord did not remove. Whether it was physical, mental, or an outside adversary that wrought similar annoying pain as that of a literal thorn within one’s flesh, we do not know.
Paul’s point was to connect that we all have human weakness and will experience a variety of suffering; therefore, to boast in anything other than Jesus is, at its core foolishness and the sin of pride.
Personally, I have struggled with depression since I was a kid. When I accepted Jesus at age 17, I thought — finally, the Lord will heal me of these thoughts! He didn’t. I thought I must not be truly saved or I’m the worst Christian ever.
Both of those were lies that Satan used to keep me isolated in shame and embarrassment for far too long. Why? Because we don’t talk about that.
After having my first baby, I experienced some of the deepest, darkest months — motherhood seemed to come so naturally to the women around me at seminary and I was a trainwreck.
My husband convinced me to go talk to this licensed Christian counselor, who I found online. It is not an over-exaggeration that our meeting was God-ordained. God used this woman to point me back to God’s Word — take the lies captive and replace them with God’s truth.
The Lord has chosen to leave this thorn in my flesh, and I will boast even more of His goodness and faithfulness because when I am weak, He is strong. Could I have gotten angry and bitter over this thorn? Yes, and if I am not consistently in God’s Word then I am prone to forget.
For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).
Humble Hubris
To be clear, we must conscientiously avoid letting the pendulum of piety swing so far in the opposite direction that we begin to brag about our religiosity (Matthew 6:16-18).
Jesus makes it clear in Matthew 7:14-15, as he teaches the crowds on the mount and us today, “How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it. Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.”
Picture it — you’re driving down the road. You are so careful not to cross that double-yellow line into oncoming traffic, avoiding the clear “thou shalt nots” (Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21; Ephesians 4:31, 5:3-5). However, if we are not careful, we may veer too far to the right that we hit the rumble strips of legalism.
Fellow co-laborers, may we be diligent to keep a watchful eye out for the oncoming traffic of sin that may derail us, as well as any signs of the pharisaical hubris masquerading as humility; but ultimately may we keep our eyes ahead, focused on Christ.
In Christ’s Strength
A life that is sold out to Christ is not going to be easy. It will most likely come with persecution, perhaps God may even give you a “thorn in the flesh,” as in Paul’s case. Praise God for it!
Discipline and sacrifice are required, but friends there is no greater joy than living wholly loved and saved by Jesus. So, how can we be strong in our weaknesses?
The answer is — when I am weak, Jesus is strong in me. If I am strong in myself, then I have left no space for Jesus to work. Pop that pride bubble and make room for the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, give Him the glory and honor in all things because without Him we are nothing.
For further reading:
What Does it Mean 'The Joy of the Lord Is My Strength'?
What Does it Mean That the Lord Is My Strength and Shield?
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