Have you ever discovered yourself thinking in this way…
“Well, if I can’t do ____________ to a certain, acceptable, high-enough standard…. then it’s not worth trying, it’s not worth attempting, it’s not worth doing… If I can’t do ____________ “perfect” enough, then it’s not worth the risk of appearing ‘weak’ or flawed…”
Boy, I have.
For example, I often struggle with organizing my thoughts and communicating them verbally. I feel that I am stronger in organizing my thoughts with a pen in my hand, and communicating my heart through writing.
And sometimes, when there’s an opportunity to communicate my heart verbally, I’ll not want to risk being “misunderstood” or not communicating something “clearly or accurately” enough… I don’t want to make a “mess” of what I desire to communicate from my heart…and so, sometimes I’ll decide to just keep quiet instead of “risking that.”
We don’t like to “appear” weak, do we? It’s uncomfortable. It can be unsettling.
But here’s another thought…
What if doing something that I would consider being “not up to standard”—or “not good enough”… is what God is asking me to do?
Because,what if… He is planning on being “strong” where I am weak?
Who am I to decide to shut that down?
“…but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me. 10 So I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength].”—2 Corinthians 12:9-10 AMP
Is it not worth the risk…
of allowing my “weakness” to be exposed—my idea of having a “reputation of ‘perfection’ to be ruined“
…so that He has room to show Himself strong?
So that He has room in my life, to do what He has on His heart to do…
Is He not worth it?
“‘But we have only five loaves of bread and two fish!‘ they answered.”—Matthew 14:7
Is He not trustworthy?
“And He said, ‘Bring them here to Me.'”—Matthew 14:18
Is He not capable of the impossible?
“…They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over. About five thousand men were fed, in addition to women and children.“—Matthew 14:20-21
Oh Lord, we know that “we are weak, but You are strong“…but help us to know it so deeply in our hearts, that we learn to truly LIVE THIS… that we allow ourselves to risk being “weak”—to risk our “reputations” our “high standards”… so that You have the ROOM to be strong in our lives—however You want to be strong!
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.”—Isaiah 55:8-9 ESV
Thank You, Father. 💝 I trust You, and I’m on the journey of learning that I can trust You more.
-Heather 🌺