When I Am Weak, Then Am I Strong
by David Stewart
"Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."
(2nd Corinthians 12:10)
A man recently asked me what the Bible meant by the statement, "For when I am weak, then am I strong." Interestingly, I had been thinking about the same exact Scripture myself the few days before. It's amazing how the Holy Spirit works. I would like to now share with you what I shared with this gentlemen.
"Faith" cannot grow without trials. If our faith is to increase, then we must go through living H-E-double-toothpicks (hell) to get there. One's faith CANNOT increase without problems, trials and hardships. When a person asks God for more faith, that person is asking for an increased burden. It is the increased burden that strengthens me to carry a heavier burden down the road. Unshakable faith comes from having your faith shaken. Read the following Scripture...
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
(2nd Corinthians 12:9)
The Apostle Paul had a thorn in the flesh, given to him by God to keep him humble. Paul asked God three times to remove the thorn but God refused. We don't know what the thorn was except that it was a "messenger of Satan." Some believe that Paul's "thorn in the flesh" was bad eye-site, since Paul used other men (such as Timothy) to write some of his books. Personally, I think not. I would not consider bad eye-sight as "a messenger from Satan." Perhaps Paul had an enemy. I would not argue the point, but I certainly can think of a few enemies in my life who have been a very hurtful thorn in my flesh (people can make your life miserable). This is why John 16:22 is in the Bible. Then again, maybe Paul had a physical ailment in his body.
Regardless, Paul eventually figured out the reason for the thorn (weakness) in his life. Paul's "thorn" was actually being used by God to strengthen Paul's faith. I think this is amazing! Not too many believers fully understanding (or want to understand) this truth. Namely, the problems in our life are blessings in disguise. We must learn to view them from this spiritual point of view. The greater the burden placed upon us, the greater the faith required to "hang-in-there." It takes faith to continue living for God when things turn for the worse in our life. As an example, new muscle in the human body is built (strengthened) by exercising the existing muscle to the point of exhaustion. Likewise, the exercising of our faith (the trial of it) will make us more mature and stable in the Lord if we will be patient and not give up. Sometimes our faith falters for a while, but the righteous man who falleth seven times rises up again (Proverb 24:16). I don't know of one Christian who is invincible. The key is to always get back up off the ground, brush the dust off, and do what you can to get back on track for God. Pray and ask God to help you.
Too many believers are choked by the cares and riches of this world and give up, they never win anyone to Christ. We should all be soul-winning Christians, spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist became discouraged while in Herod's prison. He was eventually murdered by Herod. Surely, if he had lived, John would have gotten back on track for the Lord in a matter of time. Peter had quit the ministry and gone back to his old fishing job. In time, Peter got right with the Lord and began preaching the gospel again. So be encouraged friend if your faith does falter...because a just man falleth seven times yet riseth up again (Proverbs 24:16). Get back up! Don't quit!
Interestingly, degrees of faith are not taught in the Bible, you either had faith or you didn't. A weak faith is still faith and it can move the highest mountains if God wills it. God does not require a certain level of faith from us, just faith in itself. How much faith do you need to be saved? Just enough! Just enough faith to "call upon the name of the Lord (Romans 10:13). How much faith do you need to have your prayers answered? Just enough! Just enough faith to pray. I won't go into the Scriptures here, but take a quick look at Acts 12 and you'll be amazed. James had been killed by Herod's sword. Peter was next. The church prayed for Peter's rescue, God answered their prayer. When Peter came to the door (where the church was assembled praying for his release), they didn't believe it was him. The Bible says they were "astonished" (shocked) in disbelief. What is so amazing is that these people didn't believe God would answer their prayer in the first place, that is why they were so astonished. Amazingly, even though they prayed in doubt, God answered their prayers. You see my friend, God does not require hardly any faith at all, Just faith.
We read in the Bible about "this kind" of faith which Jesus spoke of in Mark 9:29. Yes, sometimes we will need to spend time in prayer and fasting to boost our faith, but it is our lack of faith which requires the prayer and fasting...not God's demand for a certain level of faith. The disciples could NOT heal the boy afflicted by the demon because they were trying to heal the boy in THEIR own strength. It is God Who works miracles, not man. Fasting is the process whereby we let go of the physical to grasp more of the spiritual, thus creating faith in our heart. Do you have enough faith to pray, that's all God expects. The church in Acts 12 prayed with the least of faith, God delivered Peter from the murderous hands of King Herod. God tells us in James 5:15 that the "prayer of faith" shall heal the sick, not a TV evangelist or Charismatic experience. Hebrews 11:6 declares that it is FAITH which pleases God. How silly then that so many of us try to impress God with our self-righteousness (which is NO righteousness at all). Do you think fasting is a way of earning an answer to prayer? No friend, God wants faith! The sinful flesh is the direct enemy of faith in God. Fasting is a way of subduing the flesh to help us strengthen our faith.
Let me say, though God only requires the smallest amount of faith, some people do have a stronger faith than others. I am simply saying that "degrees" of faith are not taught in the Bible. Jesus spent much time in the mountains praying alone as an example to us. We need to walk with God to maintain our faith, but be comforted in knowing that God is only looking for faith, not a certain amount, just faith. To walk with God means meditating in the Bible day and night as Psalm 1:2 teaches. It means praying without ceasing as 1st Thessalonians 5:17 teaches. It means drawing close to God as James 4:8 teaches. It means taking God's yoke upon you and learning of Him as Matthew 11:29 teaches. A "yoke" is a device placed across two oxen which enables them to pull a load (a plow, etc.). Jesus wants us to help Him pull His load (His work) of winning the world to Christ through soul-winning. What a wonderful opportunity to serve God. All the faith we need to serve God is "just enough" to keep going and not quit. Do you have enough faith to ask Jesus to forgive and save you, that is all it takes to be saved. Do you have enough faith to pray, that is all God requires. What an amazing truth, thank you Holy Spirit!
Again, our problems in life are perfect opportunities for us to maintain our faith in God...but do we? How many believers get discouraged when hard-times come? Quite a few. It is normal for the carnal person to become discouraged. It is "normal" to be depressed if you are carnally-minded. Ah, but to the spiritually-minded believer, there is life and peace (Romans 8:6). As believers, we must learn to recognize the burdens upon us in life as blessings from the Lord. God may or may not have ordered the burden, but He surely "allows" all burdens within our life. Nothing can happen in my life without God's permission (God's permissive will). Knowing this fact, we should trust upon the Lord and rely upon His wisdom and guidance. If we are to please God, we must have "faith" as Hebrews 11:6 declares to us. We cannot please God without faith. To have more faith, we must have our faith shaken because unshakable faith comes from having our faith shaken! Do you want more faith, put your seat-belt on!
"And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith."
(Luke 17:5)
The disciples had no idea what they were asking for. Faith can only be increased through hardships and trials. The disciples had many obstacles coming their way, eventually they would all be martyred for Christ. Peter could not have preached the sermon on Pentecost as he did, if it were not for the times when his faith faltered. Peter's faith at one point had faltered so much that he denied even knowing Christ. But Peter didn't stay down, he got up. God is pleased when we get back up after a fall, but He is even more pleased when we "hang-in-there," serving the Lord while the burdens become increasingly heavy in our life. It takes a greater faith to keep going when the going gets tough. Our weakness is actually our strength...
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong."
(2nd Corinthians 12:9-10)
Once again, it is during the troublesome times of our life that we will be forced to place a greater faith in God if we are to continue serving Him. Many believers quit and give up on the Christian life. They never do anything for God. They stop telling others about their wonderful Saviour. They are NOT "soul-conscious." As I mentioned earlier, I find no teaching about "degrees" of faith in the Bible, you either have faith or you don't. God does not require any certain amount of faith, just faith! Some people may have a stronger faith than others, but it is faith--not a higher degree of faith--just good old faith. A believer with greater burdens will have to have a greater faith to make it through, but it is not a "degree" or "level" of faith, it is simply faith. What I am trying to say is that God does NOT require a certain level of faith to save us or to answer our prayers, He only requires child-like faith.
There will be times in our life where we will have to pray for a long time to get certain prayers answered. The Bible calls these type of ongoing prayers, "supplications." The Greek word for "supplication" as in Philippians 4:6 means "petition." I have many "petition" with God. These are certain things that I keep praying and asked God to take care of. God may never answer these prayers, but I have done what I can to cast my concerns and cares upon the Lord (1st Peter 5:7). Paul cautions us in Philippians 4:6 NOT to fret and worry about our problems. Rather, we are to take EVERYTHING to the Lord by prayers and supplications with thanksgiving, relying upon Him to take care of the things beyond our control.
So keep in mind from now on that the problems in your life are the biggest blessings to your faith (and faith pleases God).
"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing."
(James 1:2-4)
What an amazing Scripture passage! God wants us to consider it a joy when the problems of life overwhelm us. Notice that the word "patience" is mentioned twice. It takes patience more than anything to live for God. We are living in a heathen world under a heathen government. Yes, it is difficult to hang in there sometimes, but God will see us through. We must not panic or become foolish. Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10). Count it all "joy." If we as believers can learn this truth, it will transform us. Our faith will be tested! We must be patient. In time, if we don't throw in the towel, we WILL mature in the Lord and things will stabilize in our life...joy cometh in the morning.
Notice what verse follows the Scriptures we just look at...
"If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
It's more than just mere coincidence that God mentions wisdom along with the trials of our faith. Perhaps the greatest wisdom a Christian can obtain is the wisdom that his or her problems are actually tools used by God to strengthen and mature us. Remember, unshakable faith comes from having your faith shaken. So rejoice in your problems, they are your strengths which make God strong in your life. The first step to wisdom is to fear the Lord, trusting upon His guidance and wisdom in the trials He allows in our life. Most believers get upset and discouraged because of their problems (I'm preaching to myself here as well). Thankfully, I have learned that my problems are really rainbows in disguise. No, I don't want the problems. However, I cannot always make them go away as soon as I wish I could. Some problems never go away (such as Paul's thorn). Problems are a part of life. Life is what happens to you while your making big plans. The world hates God and curses His Holy Name because of their problems, but the believer must learn to do the opposite. We must praise the Lord at all times, not being ignorant of the workings of God. Our weaknesses are really our strengths and our strengths weaknesses. Thank the Lord Jesus Christ, my God and Saviour.
