But those who wait on the LORD
      Shall renew their strength;
      They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
      They shall run and not be weary,
      They shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31 (NKJV)

I have always struggled with my weaknesses.  We all have them.  Mine are personal and I try to control them on a daily basis.  Usually, I find that my weaknesses are most prominent when something happens in my life that I am not expecting.  I am startled and I go straight for that inner weakness without passing ‘Go.’ 

In Genesis 32, Jacob is trying to figure out a way to approach his older brother after deceiving and manipulating his way into an inheritance that he didn’t deserve.  After he sent his wives and children and all that he had over a brook ahead of himself, he was left alone and a Man began to wrestle with him.  It was God.  The Lord wanted to show Jacob what real manipulation was.  So, He touched the socket in Jacob’s hip and put it out of joint.   He wanted Jacob to be in a weak position to meet his brother, Esau.  It was only in humility that Jacob would learn trust. 

In Matthew 26, Peter reacts to His Lord in a bold and proud way.  Jesus told his disciples at the last supper that all of them would stumble that night because of Him.  They would abandon their Lord on the night He would need them the most.

Peter was a man of action.  He was passionate.  He wouldn’t hear of any stumbling!  ‘I will never be made to stumble!’ he said boldly and proudly!

Jesus told him that he would deny Him three times before the night was over.  Peter was mortified and argued, ‘Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!’

And, there you have it.  Peter’s weakness.  Pride.

So, later that night as Peter stood by a fire in a state of panic, a young servant girl made a statement of fact.  ‘You also were with Jesus of Galilee.’  Peter could have said, ‘Yes, I was.’  But, he became very afraid and denied it not once but three times.  Another weakness.  Cowardice. 

The Lord uses many things to teach us lessons.  In I Corinthians 1:27–29 it says, ‘But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chose, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence.’  We are all weak and when we try and be all powerful and all knowing, the Lord will bring what is necessary into your life to remind you that you are not.

When Paul asked that his weakness be removed, he was rebuked.  II Corinthians 12:9, ‘And He (God) said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”’ 

We are strong if we live by His grace.

In Christ,

Janet

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'I am a daughter of God and a recovering addict. Most of my life has been in the ministry of God in one capacity or another. Now I reach out to women who are addicted and tell them that God is waiting for them. I try to teach scripture and let the scriptures speak to them. Isn't that what christianity is all about?' '...why do you seek the living among the dead?' Luke 24:5

Janet

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