The world we live in likes to celebrate strength, success and self-promotion more than ever before it seems. I have learned that God’s Kingdom works in the opposite manner. The things I thought were a weakness or some type of limitation turned out to be the very tools God used very powerfully in my life.
I was reading 2 Corinthians Chapter 10 and found myself reflecting on verses 7-12. Paul had to deal with those who judged his spiritual authority by how he looked, spoke and how much influence he had. According to them Paul’s presence was weak, his speech was not impressive and his authority to some was questionable. But Paul understood a deeper truth and it was that God often works most powerfully through weakness. Paul refused to be measured by human standards. I unfortunately have found myself on both ends of that measuring stick.
I didn’t know that my comparison defect was a very dangerous measuring stick until I experienced salvation through Jesus and I was transformed by the grace of God. Before that my life was constantly one that compared myself to others which would cause me to be prideful, resentful and very discouraging towards myself and others. There is no way this would have ever produced any spiritual growth. However I am grateful to have learned that God never designed us to compete with one another. He designed us to depend on Him.
If you are still reading this, pay attention to this part about verse 8 where Paul talks about the authority given for building up others. This is the verse.
“For even if I should boast somewhat more about our authority, which the Lord gave us for edification and not for your destruction, I shall not be ashamed.” (2 Corinthians 10:8 NKJV)
God gives spiritual authority to build people up, not tear the down. I can admit that for most of my life I was tearing people down even when my true intention was to build them up. I’m grateful to continue learning that true Christian leadership is about restoration, encouragement, discipleship and transformation. I have seen where false leadership wanted nothing more than the recognition and I have seen really true leaders who sought out the growth of others. To me this directly connects to some of my deficiencies and a person who had to walk through brokenness which had made me so much more compassionate towards others. I am also someone who has experienced addiction recovery, restoration of a marriage after a near failure and healing from many traumatic life events. This is what God has done by giving me the unique ability to encourage others walking the same road. My deficiencies have become my ministry platform.
If you are anything like me you may have many things you wish you could change about yourself like your past, your struggles and the limitations you think are a problem in your life. One great thing I can share is that they past things will often become places in your life where God’s grace is revealed. When we do this to ourselves we are actually just misjudging our weaknesses. Looking at verse 9-10 of the passage below.
“that I may not seem as if I would terrify you by letters. For his letters, they say, are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” (2 Corinthians 10:9–10 NKJV)
We know that Paul’s critics attacked him personally. And of course by the standards of the world Paul did not look like a powerful leader but God used him to write much of the New Testament. God often chooses people who seem unlikely or inadequate. We can see these examples all throughout the Bible like Moses who struggled with speaking. There was David who was an overlooked shepherd with an identify issue. Peter was impulsive and flawed and Paul himself had physical weaknesses. Yet these people became instruments of God’s power. Their limitations forced them to rely on God instead of themselves, if your taking notes this is an important thing to realize.
My own deficiencies have turned into a few very powerful things as well. They forced me to rely on God because my life had reached the end of my own strength which is when I finally discovered His. These deficiencies developed humility in me and to understand that weakness reminds me that the work belongs to God and not to me. Lastly my deficiencies make my testimony real because I wasn’t transformed by perfect people. I was transformed by redeemed people.
God’s word consistently showed me that He uses imperfect people to accomplish His purposes. I am so grateful to have learned that the power is never in the person but in the Lord working through them.
I have also learned that my weaknesses may be someone else’s hope. I have seen many believers fearful to serve God because they think they are unqualified, they remember past failures and can only see their limitations which is why their focus will stay on their deficiencies. These very things though are actually God’s preparation, they were for me in many ways.
I found freedom and can now speak hope into someone still in chains. I’ve walked through suffering and can now comfort those who are hurting. I experienced restoration in my marriage so I could testify to God’s mercy.
Paul understood something that myself and many others took years and even decades to learn and that is God isn’t looking for the most impressive people, He’s looking for the most surrendered ones.
Remember this, in the hands of God your deficiencies may become your greatest gifts. And when He does this there will be no confusion about who deserves the credit. I can assure you that it’s not you who deserves the credit.
GRATEFUL JOURNEYS! 
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