Monday, November 20, 2006

Perfectly Flawed

Ever wonder why we have flaws and weaknesses? Many times during the summer, and even now, I wondered why I wasn't strong enough, or why I wasn't as good at things, like sports or music, as others. I felt weak and because of that I felt like God couldn't use me. I was too flawed. Over the summer, I saw otherwise, and I realized that God used me because of my weaknessess and flaws. There are two reasons for this.

1. 2 Corinthians 12 tells a story of the Apostle Paul. God had given him a thorn, a weakness. The story tells that Paul pleaded with God three times to take it away, but, each time, God said no:

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." ... That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknessess, in insults, in hardships, in persuctions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
- 2 Corinthians 12: 8-9, 10

God's power is made perfect in our weakness. We don't have to be stong, because God will be strong through us. God wants us to rely on Him for our strength, which is what He means when He says, "My grace is sufficient for you." If we were without weaknessess and flaws, we would have no need for God's strength, as we would already be strong. We would have no need for God's grace.

We are weak because God wants us to rely on Him.

2. 1 Corinthians 1:27-29 says:

"But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of the world and the despised things - and the things that are not - to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before Him."
God gave us weaknessess to bring him glory. If I was able to do something miraculous on my own strength, and everyone would praise me because of my strength. This is not what God wants. He wants, and diserves, all the glory for Him. I am not able to do anything miraculous on my own strength. With God's strenght, I am. This way, God's strength is seen in me, and He is praised for His strength.

We have weaknessess and flaws to bring glory to God.

So, next time you feel too weak, or flawed, and feel like there is no way God can possibly use you, think again. You don't have to feel bad about it. Know that God can, and will, use you because you are weak.

Walking in faith,
Kyla

1 comment:

Camper Girl said...

I like it a lot.