Today, let's share a little weakness.
What the heck does that mean?
See the picture on the left? That's my favorite picture of me -- the cartoon me. The cartoon me is fearless. She's in a picture with wild animals no less! She has no fears, no self-confidence issues. Her brain works great. Her teeth are white and have no big gaps. And her hair doesn't show gray streaks every few weeks.
The real me on the other hand -- I love animals but I wouldn't be hanging out with a lot of wild ones.
I wrestle with fears at times -- will my kids follow Jesus wholeheartedly? Will they reject what I hold dear? Will they stay strong in their faith? Will they make smart money choices (those are the concerns for my two oldest....I have different ones for my almost 16 year old and my two youngest who will both be in junior high in the fall...and then of course my girl in heaven -- in regards to her I just have a lot of questions for Jesus)?
I dye my hair roots every few weeks because I don't want gray hair at 47. I have made poor financial decisions that we continue to pay for. My teeth have gaps (though I don't mind them) and they also are a bit chipped. And my brain, on my brain.....my brain is a source of love and hate for me. I have been taking brain meds for 15 + years to keep me from full-blown insanity (though my husband thinks all women are a bit insane...well, maybe all humans are a bit insane).
The funny thing when it comes to faith -- those very things we dislike or just wish were different about us, are the very things God can shine through. He doesn't shine through slick, glamorous facades. He doesn't shine through beauty that has been "perfected" by human enhancements and choices. He shines through our weakness. He shines through our humanity that acknowledges His greatness, His love, His forgiveness, Him in all things.
It's when we are vulnerable and honest that He can work.
He's used a few scriptures in my mind today to get me on track because I was very much off track. My brain was on a cycle of condemning worrying thoughts. I couldn't get off that track myself until God's Word grabbed hold of me. I applied the 2 Corinthians 10:5 treatment to the problem. What's that? Here's the verse:
"We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5
The treatment is this -- if there is some worries or thoughts that won't leave you alone, pray "I take that thought captive to the obedience of Christ."
Pray this like you mean it and then watch God do it.
Then apply Romans 8:1 to the situation: "There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
If you know the tune sing the tune (there's a contemporary worship chorus that uses those words).
And of course there is the verse in the same book, 2 Corinthians 12:9 where God tells Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.
So, where is God's power being perfected in you?
His Power is all of Him: His love, His joy, His forgiveness, His compassion -- His everything.
Share a little weakness today. It just might be what opens a door.