“Are you strongest when you are weak or weakest when you are strong?”

We all want to be strong. Admit it, none of us wants to be weak – physically, emotionally, financially, or in any area of our lives. We want to be strong, and stay strong, and look strong, and act strong. Weakness is a sign of; well, weakness; a sign that there must be something wrong with us.

So we train, and struggle, and strive to be stronger so that no one can dominate us.

My question for you today is; “Are you strongest when you are weak or weakest when you are strong?”

In the Bible, there is the story of a great king whose name was “Uzziah”. Uzziah was an inventor, a creator, a strong king (man). In fact, his name means “strength” in various applications (force, security, majesty, praise); boldness, loud, might, power, strength, strong or “strength of God”. Problem was, the stronger Uzziah got, the weaker he really became.

Read about his story in 2 Chronicles 26.

He goes from being a great inventor to one who died of leprosy. Problem was he was too strong to admit he had weakness, and that got him into trouble. Pride filled his heart and he couldn’t receive correction. He was too strong!

2 Chronicles 26:14 “Then Uzziah prepared for them, for the entire army, shields, spears, helmets, body armor, bows, and slings to cast stones. 15 And he made devices in Jerusalem, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and the corners, to shoot arrows and large stones. So his fame spread far and wide, for he was marvelously helped till he became strong. 16 But when he was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the LORD his God by entering the temple of the LORD to burn incense on the altar of incense.” (NKJV)

The Apostle Paul, on the other hand was also a powerful Pharisee who became a Christian; a follower of Jesus Christ. He too was strong; almost too strong for his own good. Fortunately, Paul listen to the voice of the LORD who let Paul know that he was actually strongest when he was weakest. Paul had a weakness, a “thorn in the flesh”. Three times he asked God to get rid of it for him; Paul didn’t want to be weak. But the LORD had another way: 2 Corinthians 12:9 “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (NKJV)

Jesus too understood that when He became “weak” for our sakes, He showed His real strength.: “For though He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you.” 2 Corinthians 13:4 (NKJV) “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, 7 but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. 9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:5-11 (NKJV)

My question for you today is; “Are you strongest when you are weak or weakest when you are strong?”