The night before Jesus died, remember when he prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane and asked his three closest disciples to pray with him, and they repeatedly fell asleep. And Jesus said, ‘the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak’ [Matthew 26:41].
I think most of us would admit we’re weak, at least if we’re honest with ourselves. Maybe covid highlighted this for many of us?
Even in the years since covid, many of us, many of you, speak of feeling weak, and at capacity. Not feeling you have the energy to do more, to care for more people, serve in new ways, or take on responsibilities. So many feel we have enough challenges of our own to cope with. Even just doing life is hard enough.
And most of us do have lots on our plates, with life, with the hardships of family, relationships, health and relational challenges.
As I’ve been handing over growth group coordinating to Helen Bell, we’ve been talking about this reality – that we all need to be okay with serving in weakness. I spoke about this with the growth group leaders recently, but it’s helpful for all of us to think through.
In 2 Corinthians 13 Paul speaks of our Lord Jesus Christ being ‘crucified in weakness’ [2 Corinthians 13:4]. And in John 18-19, when Jesus was before Pontius Pilate, do you remember how Jesus wouldn’t even defend himself? [John 18:37; 19:9]
Jesus didn’t seem like a king – no power, no army no wealth. When he’s mocked, beaten, shamed, stripped and crucified, he doesn’t seem a powerful king, but pitifully weak. To the watching world he would have seemed like a defeated king.
And so, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:27, that God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong. For God’s weakness is stronger than man’s strength. [1 Corinthians 1:25]
Jesus seemed weak, but was actually strong; dying for our sins, to overcome sin, defeat death and smash Satan’s power.
And then when the apostle Paul came to Corinth, he said, 1 Corinthians 2, ‘I did not come will brilliance of speech or wisdom… (v3), I came to you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling’. The great apostle knew what it was to feel weakness, and fear. He knew what it’s like to minister in weakness. In fact, in 2 Corinthians 12, Paul says, he’ll only boast about his weaknesses. (v5)
I’m not saying that’s what we all need to do – have a competition and boast in who’s the weakest, or and suffered the most – the context in Corinth with the boasters moved him to say this. Don’t go comparing yourself to others.
In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul had been given this vision of heaven, an extraordinary revelation of the Lord, and to keep him from becoming conceited he was given a ‘thorn in the flesh’, v7. There’s debate about what this was, we’re not sure, yet some type of painful suffering tormented him. Then he says in 12 v8, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. 10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul was suffering in difficult and trying circumstances, and God did not fix it or take away the hard things. Because, the Lord Jesus said, ‘My grace is sufficient for you’, my undeserved kindness and love, is enough for you. And my power is made perfect in weakness.
God’s power shines out in our weakness. And this is something the Lord wants us to learn too. If we are strong and sufficient and can do-life, and do ministry, do everything in our own ability; we don’t need to rely on God in the same way, do we?
When we’re strong and well we forget we are weak, and can forget to rely on the Lord, cos we’re so busy doing.
But Scripture is saying, weakness is an opportunity to show forth God’s grace & strength. Because in the weakness, in the difficulties, we might even come to the end of ourselves, and we’re forced to rely on Christ’s power. We’re forced to plead for help, and pray for strength.
That’s why Paul says in v10, ‘when I am weak then I am strong’ – because weakness forces us to lean on the One who is strong. It’s an opportunity to shine his power and sufficiency, not your own.
So when you feel weak, it doesn’t mean we should quit or step down or stop serving. Yes, we need wisdom, and should seek good advice, and if we’re in or heading to burnout we may need to take a break from things. But I’m saying that many of us will feel weak most of the time, I do, so we need to understand that.
What does it mean to lead and serve in weakness?
I offer a few suggestions and encouragements:
First, the example of Paul tell us we don’t wait to serve until we feel strong. Paul came to Corinth feeling his weakness, and still spoke, still served, still taught. Ed Welch in his excellent book, Side by Side, helpfully says, we are all sinners and sufferers, asked to walk with others side by side, in wisdom and love. We all need help, we are all needy, and we move toward others in love. Keeping this in mind, is there something you could choose to do in response?
Secondly, it’s good to serve with others when we can, and to serve in teams, as so many of us do. Make the most of the team you have, or can you invite a brother or sister to help you in supporting another person? As Romans 15:1 says ‘we who are strong have an obligation to bear weaknesses of those without strength, and not to please ourselves. Each one is to please his neighbour for his good, to build him up’. And if you cannot serve and you just need help, that’s okay. Ask for it. Reach out to someone.
Thirdly, remember you have a Saviour who can sympathise with you. Hebrews 4:15 says, we have a high priest, Jesus, who can sympathise with our weaknesses. Jesus knows what it’s like to feel weak, to run out strength, to be left alone, or feel alone. Jesus knows, and cares, so turn to him. Rely on him. Ask for his help. Keep asking. Pray and plead for God’s strength & grace to serve, to sustain us and pick us up and shine through, for his glory.
I’ve found it helpful to memorise, 2 Corinthians 12:9 - “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness”
Because life and ministry often involves feeling weak. But our weakness gives the Lord’s power an opportunity to shine through.
I pray you’ll experience that reality in your life too.
