—- I will boast in my weakness —-
It is the sad reality that there are those that will determine our value based solely on our weaknesses rather than looking at our strengths. Often, they do so because they lack confidence in themselves, feeling the need to tear you down to keep you from excelling.
The most successful people in life move in their strengths and are perfectly comfortable with their weaknesses. They find others to work as a team to cover those areas they aren’t designed for. Successful people surround themselves with those that value them as a whole person, both at their strongest and weakest points. There are those that will value you no matter what you do or don’t do, what you can or can’t do, what you succeed in or what you fail in.
Those who succeed have learned to set strong boundaries, not allowing relationships in their life that serve only to tear them down for their weaknesses. They are intentional about only keeping those close who truly value their whole being as a person. They aren’t seeing you as a scale adding up what they like or don’t like about you, and depending on the day when your weaknesses are more apparent, that scale tips out of favor.
The reality is, God never designed a single person to be self-sufficient. Not one single person... Even Adam, the first human was given a partner in life because it was not good for him to be alone.
Jesus didn’t operate alone. He had his team who took on different duties and responsibilities of life so that he could focus on his strength in teaching and discipling.
Moses required his brother and father in law for many things that he was weak in.
Scripture explains that God PURPOSELY made us each to have different functions in the body with different strengths and weaknesses. It’s by divine design, not some failing of a broken world…
The hand isn’t so great for walking on like the foot is, but why on earth would you want to force a hand to do such a thing when it’s designed for something entirely different!? What some consider ‘broken’ or ‘weak’ is simply just not what you’re designed for. But if society values feet more than hands, then those designed for functioning as a hand may begin to feel inferior or inadequate. And those designed as feet may judge the hands for their inability to function ‘properly’ as bearing the weight of walking as well as them. This can be a cause of tremendous damage and emotional and mental health issues in those who are devalued for being different to the degree they may never discover their design for fear of rejection if they don’t learn how to be a foot like everyone around them seems to value more.
Not one person is designed to be perfectly good at everything. We can value ourselves and each other and simply accept our limitations and our weaknesses because we were never meant to dwell on them or ‘fix’ them. We are intentionally designed by God to excel in certain areas and require help in others to bond with our fellow brothers and sisters who find purpose and fulfillment in their strengths that will perfectly compliment your needs, just as your strengths compliment their needs.
American culture has corrupted the beauty of God’s design for community and friendship and family. ‘The American Dream’ encourages one to pick themselves up by their own bootstraps and slave away to make everything happen by themselves because no one will help you. This is a ridiculous concept. There is not a single successful person who has succeeded in a bubble with zero help from other’s expertise or strengths. Success doesn’t happen in a vacuum.
It is my belief that when we humble ourselves to truly accept our weakness and limitations, yet still value the depth of who God designed us to be, we will begin to thrive in all we were meant to. I am an artist. I am so happy and fulfilled in functioning in creative endeavors rather than trying to desperately study more and more to ‘fix’ my lack of math skills. I’m so happy that I can instead hire an accountant to help me with numbers instead of spin into self hatred over the fact that I can’t comprehend numbers like some. But I’m no less valuable as an artist than the accountant is for not having art skills.
I’m saddened by the state of our culture that will cause one to constantly focus on weaknesses to try to be acceptable. But I encourage you to focus on whatever is good and lovely about yourself and be at peace with the limitations. You were designed very intentionally by a creator who knew what he was doing. He didn’t make a mistake. He made you for a special purpose. And he made others come alongside you to bring fulfillment to many lives. So limit your exposure to those who focus on your weakness. Instead, spend time with those who are excited about your strengths.
“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.”
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 KJV
“But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary: And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.”
1 Corinthians 12:20-23 KJV
God bless you on your journey and may you find many who value you for who you are and how God made you.
- Kathleen
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