Weaknesses are something that we usually try to hide. I'm not referring to sin. I'm referring to emotional, physical and mental weaknesses. Typically we hate our weaknesses and wish that we were different. We rarely share our weaknesses with others because we want people to think we are strong.

One time when I was preaching I said, "I thank God for my insecurities because they make me depend on Him."

Rick Warren in The Purpose Driven Life says that God likes to use weak people. Great! I'm a good candidate then. Rick says that God can use our weaknesses in 4 ways:

  • It makes us more dependent on God and more prayerful.
  • It keeps us from becoming arrogant and proud.
  • It makes us realize our need for other people and fellowship.
  • It actually makes us more sympathetic and effective in ministry to other people with weaknesses (which actually includes all of us if we are honest).

Rather than trying to hide our weaknesses and putting up a front to cover them, we would actually do better to admit them. It would put us at ease and actually make it easier for others to relate to us.

Being honest about our weaknesses is difficult, but look at how honest Paul was. He admitted the following to the Corinthians: "I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling." (1 Corinthians 2:3) Paul tells about God's revelation to him: "And He [God] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Corinthians 12:9)

Being honest about our weaknesses is difficult.
We all have weaknesses and that's OK. We can relax and realize that God can use us in spite of our weaknesses just like he used the apostle Paul in his weaknesses. We can even thank God for our weaknesses if they make us humble and make us depend on Him more. Then when God uses in spite of our weaknesses, He gets all the glory, not us.

"But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty." (1 Corinthians 1:27)