We all have weaknesses that we struggle with. Things in our lives that are hard for us… that maybe even make us feel ashamed or embarrassed. But we don’t have to feel this way any longer when we learn about weakness in the Bible.
In our weakness, God is our strength. Our weaknesses can be seen as a good thing and something we can learn to accept about ourselves when we know what the Bible says about them. Paul shows us how to view weaknesses and the good that comes from having them.
Human Weakness in the Bible
Everyone has something that they struggle with, even if from the outside they look perfect. Only Jesus is perfect and without sin.
In the Bible there are many stories that show human weakness—so you don’t have to feel alone, ashamed or embarrassed by yours. Some people in the Bible even struggled with spiritual weakness, such as lacking faith.
Paul asked the Lord for his weakness to leave him, but it didn’t.
“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-8, ESV)
This “thorn” made Paul’s life difficult, but God used it for his good. It allowed God’s plans to come about in spreading the good news in many places, such as in Corinth.
It also enabled Paul to be a healthy disciple for Christ. It always kept Paul from not giving himself praise; as it caused him to recall he was weak.
It was a good thing, this “thorn.” God didn’t take it away because it helped bring about his good plans for Paul and others.
Strength in Weakness
Your “thorn” can do the same for you. It can allow you to depend on God when you wouldn’t, reminding you of your frailty. It can make you humble and give glory to him by testifying to his strength, bringing forth the Gospel.
God uses those who are weak in powerful ways when they lean on him. Don’t be ashamed or embarrassed by your “thorn,” as it allows you to depend on Jesus. He will do great things despite it.
It doesn’t have to be an obstacle for you. It can ground you in him and the Lord’s purposes can come forth through you in great ways as you rely on him.
Don’t let it hold you back in life; accept it as a part of you. It’s not your identity, but a piece of you that God put there as a gift to help you know you need him and to depend on him. It brings forth his power.
This is being weak in the Bible; it is a good thing.
Related: Who You Are: 10 Bible Verses About Identity in Christ
Bible Verse on Weakness
There are verses about weakness in the Bible, as well as Bible verses on weakness and strength.
“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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, ESV)
This verse is in response to Paul and his “thorn,” which he prayed to leave him three times. Jesus says to him his “grace is sufficient,” teaching him about the power of Jesus and frailty coexisting at the same time.
It was necessary that Paul have this prior weakness, as only then could Jesus’ power “rest upon him,” and “reside” in him.
His gloating is the sole result of encountering the power of Jesus due to his frailty: his strength comes from God alone.
This showed those who were against Paul who Jesus was and that Jesus is all powerful. It also brought credibility to Paul in his position of authority, despite his past troubles.
The Strength of God
If you have been praying about your “thorn” to leave you but you still have it, know that God’s “grace is sufficient.” Meaning that, despite this “thorn,” Jesus would give Paul the ability to deal with it and he will do the same for you. We experience Jesus’ power in us because we are weak.
In his strength, he will do the impossible—he can make things happen that you never dreamed of happening. In your weakness, his power will come forth in great ways if you lean on him.
His strength is almighty; he can do it all. Just depend on him.
Tell him you need help, admit that you are weak, surrender; don’t be prideful. Instead, ask him to do it through you to experience his power. It will move through you to do great things.
Give him the glory he deserves. It was him, not you.
Weakness in the Bible shows us that we can accept our own weaknesses; this is a chance to lean on Jesus, humbling ourselves to see his power come forth in great ways. And it grows us in our relationship with him.
Weakness in the Bible
Weakness in the Bible shows us that in our weakness God is our strength. It is through the admitting of our weaknesses and acknowledging that we are weak to him that his strength will come forth through us and reside in us in great ways.
This will show others Jesus and bring glory to his name alone.
Below you can find two examples from Paul on accepting your weaknesses if you are struggling to do this.
Paul spoke about being weak so that others wouldn’t praise him, and so he wouldn’t view himself as better than everyone else. He didn’t want to take God’s glory and wanted others to concentrate on his teaching and how he lived, which demonstrated Christ instead of himself.
“On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses—though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.” (2 Corinthians 12:5-6, ESV)
He didn’t share his “visions and revelations” to bring focus on himself. If he was to gloat about anything it would be his weaknesses because this would point others to Jesus.
If you want to direct others to Christ, you should talk about your weaknesses—they will enable you to bring up Christ as in your weakness he was your strength. You only did the things you did because of Jesus.
This will allow you to see your weaknesses as a good thing and accept them. They won’t be an obstacle any longer but will help you accomplish the best thing ever: sharing the Gospel.
You can connect with others through sharing about your weaknesses more than you ever could otherwise. It is a chance to talk about Jesus and boast about his power because that is what boasting about your weaknesses is.
It is bringing glory to his name, so boast about Christ through sharing your weaknesses.
2. Choose to Be Content With Your Weaknesses
Paul goes on to say he became content with his weaknesses… and so can you to accept them.
“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10, ESV)
Without these weaknesses, he wouldn’t be able to show others Jesus’ grace. People would chalk things up to him instead then, and he never wanted that. He always wanted to glorify Jesus and his weakness allowed him to do that.
Your weakness can do the same and that is why you can be content with it. Contentment brings acceptance. You can accept your weakness because it allows God’s power to inhabit you.
Everyone has weaknesses and we can accept them as Paul did when we learn what it says about weakness in the Bible. Weakness in the Bible says that in our weakness we are strong, as his power lives within us in great ways. We bring glory to Jesus’ name.
You can accept your weaknesses through knowing a powerful scripture on weakness such as 2 Corinthians 12:9. Boasting about your weaknesses to share about Christ, as well as choosing to be content with them, brings acceptance. God has great purposes that he brings forth through our weaknesses.
Kruse, Colin G. 2 Corinthians. Edited by Robert W. Yarbrough and Andreas J. Köstenberger. Nashville, Tennessee: B&H Academic, 2020.
Kruse, Colin G. 2 Corinthians: An Introduction and Commentary. Downers Grove, Illinois: IVP Academic, 2015.
Swindoll, Charles R. Swindoll’s Living Insights: New Testament Commentary: 1 & 2 Corinthians. Carol Stream, Illinois: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2017.
2 Responses
Thank you so much
Hi, Joanne.
You’re very welcome. To God be all the glory!
It’s so wonderful to connect with you.