God wants me to operate from a position of weakness. I know that’s counterintuitive for me, but He does. The thing is, it’s not because God wants me to be a mindless automaton, programmed to do His bidding. It’s because if I am anywhere else but from a position of weakness, I am depending on my own strength, my own intellect, my own means; in other words, I am operating out of a point of pride, and there is little, if anything, that can be done for me there. If I operate under pride, I do not see the need for God. I get stubborn, I get resolute, I seek my own way, and, most times, I lead myself into a place of harm. But in my weakness, His power is made complete, because in weakness, I am humble.
Humility is a place where I can be worked on, where I am open to God’s leading and correction and guidance. Humility is a place where I can find rest and peace, because I do not have to worry about outcomes. I’m placing them in God’s hands and letting Him decide what will be. In that place, I have peace, because God is ruling there, and, even should I die, I am trusting Him with the resolution and outcome of every situation I find myself in. Humility is the place Jesus lived while he walked this earth, submitting everything to the Father’s will, and it is where we have TRUE freedom, trusting in the will of God over our own wants, wishes and desires. And there, we find joy because we are becoming who we were always meant to be: men and women made in the image of God, whose love is perfecting, and from whom that love flows out to all others. I’m not there yet. I’m stubborn and prideful, but, God willing, it’s where I’m headed.
Philippians 2:1-18
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses—though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
