“God meets you in your weakness and empowers you for the life he wants you to live.”- Joel Muddamalle
“O Lord, Light of the blind and strength of the weak, and at the same time, Light of those who see and Strength of those who are strong, listen to my soul and hear it crying out from the depths.”- St. Augustine of Hippo, Confessions
Joel Muddamalle concludes Chapter 4 of The Hidden Peace as he affirms God as the source that provides, leads, and helps us. Regardless of our specific context of weakness or strength. As a result, Joel adds rhetorically, why would we cut ourselves off from depending on Him?
Therefore, Joel exhorts us to embrace weakness, in the knowledge that this lens leads us to the source of all strength — Jesus. And, on a practical basis, Joel asks you to honestly assess your willingness to:
- admit when you are wrong and thank the person who brought it to your attention.
- ask for feedback when you feel uncertain about something and receive that feedback with genuine openness.
Consequently, Joel exhorts:
“The weakness we experience is an actual kindness of God. Weakness in fact breaks the myth of self-reliance. Weakness provides an avenue for us to exercise God-dependence. . . .
Be encouraged that your brave honesty — your willingness to accept the reality of your weakness and who God says you are — will not ultimately diminish you. It will actually produce humility, nudging you to lean more and more into Jesus’ power, putting you on the path toward infinite strength.”
Certainly, Joel notes, right now you may be doing everything in your power to cover up your weakness. Plowing full steam ahead trying your best to deny the reality of your inability. But, Joel encourages, accept the limits of your weakness. Because it takes only a fraction of that energy to lead you to safe dependence on God.
Today’s question: How do you respond to the truth that God meets you in your weakness? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “But God certainly is!”