There is an old story about a man in China who was walking on a rain slick road. He lost his footing & fell into a ditch filled with mud. He kept sinking deeper & deeper in the mud. The more he struggled to get out of the ditch, the deeper he sank.
As he was sinking in the mud, a man of a certain religion came by. He looked at him & said, “My what a predicament you are in. Here is a paper that tells you ten ways to get out of ditches.” The man started reading & he tried all ten ways to get out of the ditch, only to discover that the harder he tried the deeper he sank.
Then another man of a certain religion came along & looked at him, & said, “You are in a terrible condition, but I have good news for you. If you’ll take 5 steps toward me, I’ll take 5 steps down to meet you, & then together we will walk out of the ditch.” But the man said, “I couldn’t even take the 5 steps. The more I struggled the deeper I sank in the mud.”
Then Jesus came by. Jesus looked at him, took off His crown & His royal robes, & got down in the ditch with him & He pushed him until his feet were on solid ground once again.
I would like you to think about this story and put it in your own life through this message today.
Weakness, Trouble, and desperation! We all have it. We all experienced it. We all can relate can’t we?
In the Epistle Letter read today of 2 Corinthians, we have encountered a very descriptive example and even an approach to a problem that seems to plague humankind.
So when we think of weakness, what comes to mind? For some, it may be words like failure, loser, faithlessness, fault, imperfection, doubt, Achilles’ heel, and so on. In today’s society, throughout the world, weakness is also something that is a specific problem when it comes to people. For instance, American being known for ‘The land of the free and home of the brave!’ Is there anything in that statement that shows weakness?
Not really! But is America weak? Absolutely! Weakness resides in all nations of the world.
Here is food for thought! In a known magazine of Forbes, it is reported in 2021, 47% of Americans stated to receive any therapy, whether professional or by other means, is a direct sign of weakness and as a result, these individuals will remain in their current state because of the fear, or façade of being weak. That is pride in every sense of the word.
Paul is telling us friends in this letter about how weakness is NOT the end of it all. There is something to be said about weakness.
When it comes to pain and suffering as a weakness, Paul tells us also in the letter about his weakness he experienced. He asked God three times to remove this thorn of the flesh, what that truly is, we don’t know. But inspite of Pauls efforts, what was God’s response “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
So right here friends, paul is telling the people of Corinth and us today, weakness is something not to be ashamed of. Atleast, it should help us see that only through Gods grace and power, we humans being weak and helpless because of sin, are unable to remove ourselves from sins power apart from God’s help. Basically means we can’t do it by ourselves.
Think about it, how much pain and suffering can we truly handle on our own? Whats the one thing that really is a deciding factor if we will or wont make it, or do something. Do we not all have strengths and weaknesses? For those that do not know God, how much abuse do they put themselves through to avoid pain and suffering.
Just this week, I had an anxiety attack that I get sometimes. It comes from my PTSD and other aspects, but the one thing that I instinctively say to myself, God, is this really necessary? There was no danger around me, but yet I still felt it. I do try to avoid situations that I know are hard for me, but with Gods help, I strive through them. Do I always succeed, no! But I never give up.
Paul is clearly telling us friends, in this life, we will NOT face adversity without victory as long as we put Christ into the focus of our life. However, weakness should NOT define who we are either. For instance, weakness is not a cop-out for doing very little and just throw it off to people ‘I’m weak and that’s the status Quo. Theres no reason to change because I am who I am, weak.”
That is NOT what Paul is displaying here. We are NOT to remain in a state of denial or in a sobbing sad story of how terrible it is. Weakness, just as paul gave us, is a sign that we need a savior. We need a redeemer. We need a friend, to come to our aid and give us strength. Why? Because we can’t do it alone! God not only loves us, but he wants to meet all our needs.
Emily Matthews mad this statement “The strength I have is not my own. It comes through faith in gGod. And though so often I cazan’t see the way, I have th reassurance of his presence in my life to help me meet the challenge of each day. So I rest in his provision for I know that he is leading and it really doesn’t matter what life vrings, for I know that I am in his care and through the strength he gives me, he has promised me that I can do all things.
What this is basically saying friends, with Gods Loving grace, ever faithful service to us, his people, we will be given the ability to bear what we go through, whether anxiety, depression, family problems, financial difficulties, medical concerns, what ever it is that sinks us into the mud and mire. He will lift us up and out onto solid ground.
How many of you enjoy going to doctors? A true story arose in 1994 about a man in London who had an experience. The man needed bladder surgery, but he couldn’t overcome his fear of doctors and hospitals. So he self-reliantly did what had to be done. He tried to perform the surgery upon himself. Tragically he got an infection and died. The coroner said, “Unfortunately, his drastic remedy went wrong. A simple operation would have solved the problem.”
Just as many don’t trust doctors and hospitals, many people wont trust God. In their self-reliance, they destroy themselves.
So what do we have to do? We must learn to trust God, in every aspect of our lives.
Friends, not just when we ‘THINK’ we need him, not just when we ‘FEEL’ we need him. But in every area of our life. Christ wants to be Lord and Master in our lives. Supply all the needs you have.
Think about this, when we only allow Christ to have access to parts of us, what parts will we give him? Most often its what we can’t handle. But the other areas that we think we have control over, we tend to let that alone. Because its something we think we got in control.
Weakness is NOT a sign that we are feeble. What it actually does, it gives God glory. It shows God that we, his children, depend on God's power and ability to be the only way to conqueor sin effectively. It shines brightly to God that ‘Yes Lord’, I’m willing to allow you full access to my life! Paul boasts about his weakness for Christ!
When we think of weakness, we normally do not think of Jesus do we! Listen to what Jesus done, “Then He said to them, My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.
And He went a little beyond them, and fell on His face and prayed, saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”
What do we do? What did Jesus do? Go to God period. Ask him today friends, no matter what you are going through, God can and will supply you with all the strength, courage and faith you need.
Ken Pilcher, Jr said this “He did not fail you in the garden, though his sweat was like drops of blood. He did not fail you at the trial, though hew asbeaten, flogged, and spit on. He never grumbled. He never faltered. He never quit, and he won’t fail you now! He has promised to come to you, to abide in you, and to give you peace. Then look within yourself. Clear away any doubt of his presence. He never faltered then, and he wont fail you now!
Amen