Kyle Idleman’s theme in Chapter 8 (“Weak to Be Strong”) of The End of Me is that “our weaknesses create a space that God wants to fill with strength.” Our weakness is the best setting for God to display His strength. Jesus stepped into poverty, weakness, and obscurity so that the only thing left for us to say is, “Look what God can do.”
In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Pastor Idleman states, Paul is speaking about the difference between having strength and leaning on it. Kyle adds:
“God doesn’t demonstrate his strength even though we’re weak- he demonstrates it precisely through the weakness.”
Corrie ten Boom, author of The Hiding Place, wrote another book titled Tramp for the Lord. In that book Corrie tells about a Russian woman she met during the Cold War, when Christians were persecuted in Russia. Multiple sclerosis left the woman with the physical ability to control only her right index finger. With that one finger, she translated and typed the Bible and other Christian books into Russian. The secret police ignored the woman because they didn’t consider her a threat- so she was able to work freely right under their noses.
Kyle leaves us with the following questions:
- How many times have I turned away from some challenge because I wasn’t sure I had what it took and I was afraid to face the idea of weakness?
- How many blessings have I missed out on, not because I wasn’t capable, but because I wasn’t vulnerable?
Today’s question (from Kyle): How have you noticed God’s strength in spite of your weaknesses? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “These days are Glory Days”