Can Weakness PLEASE Be A Virtue???

 By Allison Flowers

I have an autoimmune disease and that can greatly affect my energy and strength. One particular day this weakness just seemed to get the best of me. After a painful, restless night, I knew the moment my eyes opened the following morning that I was going to physically struggle for the rest of the day. But I was determined to accomplish one thing and that was my one load of laundry. I slowly made my way up the stairs carrying my dirty clothes. I was already exhausted!


As I’m starting my load of laundry, the sweet lady I’m living with walks up to check on me. She explains to me that there is a youth event scheduled for later that day, and they were going to work on repainting the church. And upon hearing that announcement I burst into tears.


Now that may seem a rather silly thing to cry about, but that's what I did. I cried because my body hurt and it seemed so unfair. I cried because I wanted to serve at the church and help paint but was unable to physically do so that day. I cried because I didn’t understand why God would allow me to struggle on a day when I really could’ve helped do something at the church. You know, work for His Kingdom!


I had my meltdown and then I spent time in prayer pouring my heart out to my heavenly Father who so tenderly cares for me. The Lord is faithful and is always present with me in those moments of weakness. During that time, the Lord brought to mind several simple thoughts that helped me through the rest of that day and I’d love to share them with you.


1. My weakness is a direct invitation from God Himself to depend solely on Him.


We all know the verse 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. Paul has been given a thorn in the flesh and
he cries out to God begging Him to remove it. In response, God says that it will be His
grace, His strength, and His power that enables Paul, not only to endure the thorn in the
flesh, but to be used through it. When I am weak I am reminded of how helpless I am, and
with that reminder I have no choice but to rely solely on the Power of my God to carry
me through. And that’s the way it should be! With or without weakness it is the ability of
my God that enables me to do anything. When I am weak I must remember 1 Corinthians
1:29, “that no flesh should glory in His presence” and verse 31 from the same chapter,
“He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.” Yes indeed, weakness is truly an invitation
from God to fix my eyes on His abilities so I may marvel at the power of my God.


2. My view of “Kingdom Service” will not always match God’s view.


Wanting to be able to help paint the church with the youth of the church seemed like a
perfect way to serve. What is wrong with that desire? Nothing. Nothing is wrong with
that desire, but if God doesn’t allow me to serve in that way, I need to accept that He has
something else in store. Is prayer not a way to serve? Can prayer not be accomplished
when I’m unable to do anything but physically rest? I must be willing to accept the
physical limitations God grants me as an opportunity to serve Him in a way that He
desires. Even if that means lying down on the couch resting and praying!


3. God wastes nothing, especially times of weakness.


At times, it can be immensely frustrating to accept that I can’t do all that I think I should
be doing. But, by remembering the last two points, I can see that God is inviting me to
partake in an opportunity that He has orchestrated specifically for me and me alone. 

If God has invited me to serve in a way He has designed, how can I think that my times 

of weakness serve no purpose? I can’t. Times of weakness are not times to have pity parties, 

although those do occasionally occur. Rather, times of weakness are wonderful, God-given 

moments that allow us to grow spiritually.

James 1:2-5 is a perfect illustration.
~ Am I counting it all joy when I’m in the throes of my trial?
~ Am I allowing my faith to be stretched and tested so I may come through it with a more complete understanding of my God and deeper faith?
~ Am I asking God to grant me His wisdom so I may learn through this trial? Joy does not mean I spend my days of weakness jumping up and down singing, “Hallelujah, God has given me a trial!” No, definitely not. However, I can find comfort and soul abiding joy when I realize God is molding me further into His image. He is a good God, who cares for me like no other, and in His everlasting love He knows I need this time of trial so I may come through it more complete as His child.



I’m sorry for the trial, testing, and suffering you are going through. I may not be able to
understand your trial or the depth of your suffering, but rest assured God knows, and He
understands. He sees your suffering and He is not indifferent to it. He is not a “cruel”
God for allowing you or me to suffer.

We may not understand the suffering, and that’s okay. We don’t have to understand “why”, instead we are commanded to trust. Cling to God and look at your trial as a precious invitation to commune with the Good Shepherd.


Accepting that God’s way is best, no matter what we had pictured, makes us the perfect
vessel for God’s strength to shine. I encourage you to endure during this trial and keep
going. Hold fast to the promises of God’s Word and allow Him to mold you during this
time. He will not waste this time, and if you allow Him, He will make you better through
it.

Allison Flowers is a young lady who desires to serve the Lord wherever He leads. She lives in the South where you’ll find her reading, playing with her dogs, or going for a hike.