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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me . – 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) As we move into the summer months and struggle through the effects of the pandemic, many of us still find ourselves working on recovery from issues in our lives.

Here is a “secret” I find in the Scriptures that you may find helpful in your recovery journey.

Today, I want to discuss the power of weakness in the recovery process. We will look at two examples of weakness in the Bible and how we can use this “secret” to build our recovery.

Jesus and Paul were powerful examples of weakness. The theme of weakness is demonstrated throughout the Scriptures. God seems to work best, when people admit and demonstrate their weaknesses.

For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. – 1 Corinthians 1:25 (NIV)

Jesus –was born in a lowly manger to an unmarried mother, lived by the generosity of others, becoming poor for us, had no bed, pillow, or home, had someone else carry his cross, and finally suffered an unjust death. God in his wisdom, often chooses to work through weakness to communicate his love to the world. For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God’s power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God’s power we will live with him in our dealing with you. – 2 Corinthians 13:4 (NIV)

Paul –an incredibly intelligent, passionate, and powerful man, when tasked to help the struggling and sinful Corinth church, approached his task not in power, but in weakness. He said, “I came to you in weakness with fear and trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3) and then used the word “weak” 11 times in the letters to describe himself.

Note : There is a difference in Jesus’ and Paul’s weakness. Paul was weak as a fact and he was simply honest about it. Jesus on the other hand, decided to be weak…it was a choice he made for our benefit.

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself . – John 12:32 (NIV)

Weakness in Recovery –so how do we become weak in order to get strong? How does this work? Here are a few thoughts:

  1. Be brutally honest with yourself and others about your weaknesses. Find trusted friends to open up with and share your most intimate weaknesses. Share how they impact you, how you feel about them, and how you walk with God during your most challenging times. Use the book of Psalms to guide your discussion. Vulnerability is a key to getting better and is also quite attractive to others. See this Brene’ Brown video.
  2. Study weakness or humility in the Scriptures and notice how God works through it. Examine their thinking, heart, and behaviors that are a result of their faith. Watch God do the impossible during their most vulnerable times. Examples include: Moses, Gideon, Abraham, Job, David, Ruth, Paul, Peter, and of course, Jesus.
  3. Keep in mind the character growth aspect of challenges in James 1. Read the entire chapter for many rich rewards (joy, maturity, completeness, wisdom, a high position, a crown, etc.) of those who persevere through challenges. While we cannot always determine the storms in our lives, we can adjust our sails to cope with them!

The church setting is the the perfect place for recovery. Learn how to set up a Disciples In Motion weekend visit with Tim. It includes many different opportunities for mental health trainings in the church setting. Click here for more information.