Faith in God When I Am Weak 2016.10.05
There are real problems in the world - physical & mental illness, broken families & marriages, warring countries & it's people stuck between them... I try to remember this when I feel my heart begin to harden, and how the worry that I'm feeling, is a lack of faith in God. Forget the fact that "my problems" pale in comparison to what I had mentioned, or what other people are suffering from, I try to remember that God has always had my back, and continues to do so, despite my imperfection. He has opened my eyes & heart, especially within the past month, and I am trying to remain "happy & hopeful" despite some personal struggles. And yet, I find myself feeling anxious & alone.
9 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.
For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
I understand that my faith needs to grow - I feel alone because God wants me to fall back upon Him, to know without a shadow of a doubt that He wants to be the first person I talk to, get comfort & encouragement from... Faith will not grow without struggles. And for each of our faith to grow, we need to go through the pain of our problems. Paul wrote "For when I am weak, then I am strong".
Sometimes, when we struggle, we pray for the pain to stop, but God says "no". Why? Because it's from that pain where we need to learn what's important. Despite what it feels like, the pain will not kill us - It is meant to humble us & draw us closer to Him. As a prideful man (probably the first part of my problem), do I follow what the scripture says? Do I "boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses"? I know that I tend to keep to myself w\what I struggle with... That I have that close group with whom I can share, and I may mention my struggles sadly in passing, but I am definitely not boasting gladly!
Sometimes our problems may be blessing in disguise - God truly knows what's best, even when we "don't see it". Proverbs 24:16 (paraphrases) says "fall seven, get up eight". The true problem may lie in the fact that we are trying to get back up without God. Just like getting up will strengthen your muscles, getting up with God will strengthen our faith.
[Trials] have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith
—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—
may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
1 Peter 1:7
