Over the last few years in ministry as a pastor and teacher, I have come to understand something that has had a great impact on my personal life and my understanding of God’s perspective and way of working. It is this: “God loves to use weak people.” In fact he is an expert at using people who have failed, have messed up and are weak in the eyes of the world. The renowned missionary to China, Hudson Taylor, once said, “All God’s giants were once weak people.” God specializes in turning weaknesses into strengths. He uses people that the world would not consider suitable.
Everyone has their own weaknesses. In fact, you have a bundle of flaws and imperfections: physical, intellectual and emotional. You may also have uncontrollable circumstances that weaken you, such as financial or relational limitations. Usually we try to deny our weaknesses; we defend them, excuse them, hide them and resent them. This only prevents God from using them the way he desires to. God has a completely different perspective on our weaknesses. We think that God only wants to use our strengths, but he also wants to use our weaknesses for His glory. When you think of your own limitations you may be tempted to conclude, “God could never use me.” But God is never limited by our own limitations. In fact, he enjoys putting His great power into ordinary containers. He is a real expert at turning situations around and creating victory in the midst of human defeat.
God has never been impressed with strength or self-sufficiency. In fact it seems that he overlooks those that are qualified and able in themselves, and he is drawn to people who are weak and are ready to admit it. If God only used “perfect” people then nothing would get done, because none of us is flawless or qualified to serve Him. International missionary Lester Sumrall has said that “every man of God has clay feet.” Like common pottery, we are fragile and flawed and break easily. But God will use us if we allow him to work through our weaknesses.
We only need to take a quick look at the people God has used in a profound way in the last century to see that God is not limited by human weaknesses. International evangelist Billy Graham had a bad speech defect as a child but this did not stop God from calling and equipping him. We all know what happened after that! Healing evangelist Kathryn Kuhlman had a disastrous marriage and experienced rejection and shame, but God turned things around and she became a channel of healing to thousands of sick and suffering people. Faith teacher Kenneth Hagin was seriously ill and bedridden as a teenager. His father left his family when he was a child and his mother suffered from very serious depression, but God raised him up to be a “voice of faith” to a generation of believers in the charismatic movement. These are only a few examples of how God can turn hopeless situations around and use people whom the world would consider unqualified.
Realization of one’s own weaknesses prevents arrogance and keeps our egos in check. Our weaknesses also encourage us to accept others, whereas human strength breeds an independent spirit which makes us intolerant of other people’s weaknesses. Most of all our weaknesses increase our capacity to show mercy and understanding to others. We are far more likely to be compassionate and considerate to others who are weak. Real ministry begins with vulnerability. The more you let down your guard, take off your mask, and share your struggles, the more God will be able to use you in serving others. This is why God wants to use your weaknesses, not just your strengths. If all people see are your strengths, they get discouraged and think, “Well, good for him, but I’ll never be able to do that.” But when they see God using you in spite of your weaknesses, it encourages them to think, “Maybe God can also use me!” God gives grace to the humble; to those that do not deserve it. His grace is His ability and His strength. His grace more than compensates for our weaknesses!
To those that have failed and are frustrated in our performance-centred, self-sufficient generation, the wonderful message of God’s empowering grace has a revolutionary effect! Be encouraged! God is in the business of using ordinary people from very ordinary circumstances. He is not put off with your weaknesses and past life. God has a completely different perspective on your weaknesses. His thoughts and His ways are much, much higher than ours. Welcome to the club! All of God’s champions of faith in the Bible started from zero! That which is impossible with man is possible with God!
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