Everyone has a list of weaknesses in their life. Those things we have a hard time resisting. Things that seem to constantly drag us down and get us in trouble. However, on that list, we all have one weakness that outweighs all the others. The sin that tempts us more than any other. Or that thing we keep doing for some reason even though we know it never results in anything thing good. Everyone has one and you know what yours is. At times it can feel as though we are stuck with it forever destined to constantly struggle against it. But God is able to take our greatest weakness and turn it into our greatest strength. Using it to spread His message, bless others, or even help others overcome the very same things we have struggled with.
The Bible shows this very thing in the life of several individuals such as the Apostle Peter. Study his life and you will see that his greater weakness came from his speech. He always had something to add or say and couldn’t simply sit on his thoughts. A weakness that ultimately leads to a stiff rebuke from Jesus in which he was referred to as satan. He also had a tendency, like many of us, to speak before thinking. That caused him to fulfill the prophecy of Jesus and deny the Lord three times in one night.
Matthew 16:21–23 (ESV)
21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. 22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Luke 22:59–62 (ESV)
59 And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” 60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” 62 And he went out and wept bitterly.
Peter had some definite problems when it came to speaking. However, God was able to turn this weakness of the tongue into a strength. Peter’s desire to always say something is what made him a great minister of the word. He was willing to seize every opportunity to preach the Gospel whether the circumstances were good or not. Standing up first to speak to the people who questioned the events taking place on the day of Pentecost. Even when facing his advisories in the face. Which lead to thousands being saved and ignited a flame that is still burning to this day, saving millions.
Acts 2:14 (ESV)
14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words.
Acts 4:18–20 (ESV)
18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”
James wrote that man has been able to tame all kinds of wild animals but not the tongue. A truth that is evident in the early life of the Apostles Peter. But while man was not able to tame Peter’s tongue the Lord was able to turn his weakness into a strength. One that has impacted the world greatly for over two thousand years. God can do just what He did in the life of Peter in your life as well. It may sound impossible to you that your weakness could ever become a strength. In some ways that’s true, it very well may be impossible for you to make that change but nothing is impossible for God.
James 3:7–8 (ESV)
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
Luke 18:27 (ESV)
27 But he said, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.”
The Apostle Paul also had a great weakness in the form of zeal. Which sounds kind of odd to say, but is true nonetheless. You see he was completely in on whatever he believed. Something that made him a great Jew. But was also leading him down a path away from God and towards destruction. Paul even said himself that he was more zealous as a Jew than any of his counterparts. Something that keeps him from seeing the truth of who Jesus was for many years. Even causing him to fight against God by attacking the early church.
Galatians 1:13–14 (ESV)
13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.
Paul being so headstrong and passionate about his beliefs almost lead him further away from the God he claimed to serve. Yet, one day God reached out to Him in a mighty way and forever changed the apostle’s life. Paul converted to Christianity and God refocus his zeal into the gospel message. Because of this all-in attitude, Paul was willing and able to take the gospel to places it had never been before. Even though serving God meant he was severely persecuted, beaten, imprisoned, and even poor. As he said he was truly unashamed and not afraid of sharing the Gospel message. All because God made his greatest weakness a great strength. Putting his zeal and passion in the right place to thrive.
2 Corinthians 11:23–27 (ESV)
23 Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. 24 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; 26 on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; 27 in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.
Romans 1:16 (ESV)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
I don’t know what your greatest weakness is but I do know that God can turn it into a great strength. Maybe you always have something to say, even when you shouldn’t, like Peter, and God can use that to make you a great orator. Or maybe you are more like Paul and you become consumed with one thing. Holding to it with a tight grip unwilling to see past it but willing to take it to everyone. Then God can focus that energy into sharing the truth that saves lives.
Maybe your weakness is depression, anger, pride, lust, a certain sin, addiction, doubting, or so on. The truth is God can turn any of those into a strength in ways you could never imagine. Maybe that means giving you the insight to help people who have struggled in those same areas. Focusing that energy into something productive like prayer, study, giving, teaching, or anything that benefits the greater good. God has done it before and He can do it again if you will only let Him.
However, you must understand that this change does not take place without your help. Your weakness can never become a strength while you simply sit on the sidelines. Before Peter gave his first sermon we see that he was found in one accord with the other believers praying and seeking God. Something that the Bible records was a continued act in His life. This is important to note because your newfound strength can easily revert back to weakness if you start to lose sight of the Lord. Paul even said that he trained himself daily to ensure he would still be saved.
Acts 2:1 (ESV)
1 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place.
Acts 4:23–24 (ESV)
23 When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,
Acts 10:9 (ESV)
9 The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.
1 Corinthians 9:27 (ESV)
27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
If you truly want God to use you and you want to see your greatest weakness become a strength that better serves Him then start praying. Seek the Lord and offer Him your weakness asking Him to use it in whatever way He can. The way it changes may come as a surprise to you but when you open yourself up to be used by God He will always do just that. Taking whatever you have to offer and using it for the betterment of the Kingdom.
Don’t look at your weakness as something that is only ever going to hold you down and that you are simply stuck to battle against. Know that God can turn it into a strength that you never could have imagined. I am sure Peter and Paul never saw themselves getting to where they were but they simply allowed God to use them. Then He placed them right where they were meant to be. He can and will do the same thing for you if you will simply give Him the opportunity. Offer your weakness to God and see what He is able to do with it.
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