The Strength in Your Weakness

by Stella Whalen

"You are weak." Only three words, yet one of the biggest insults and personal attacks said to a person, or maybe even said to yourself. The world will tell you that you're not weak and that you have the strength within yourself to overcome those doubts and fears. They will say you are enough the way you are, that you don't have to prove yourself and you simply have to live your truth.  

I have the unpopular belief that we are weak, we aren't enough, we can't become strong on our own and that's the whole point. There's a verse in the Bible that says,

Drawing of a girl closing her eyes in confusion and pain.

"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. 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 12:9-10. 

Contentment is not a popular heart posture in America today. We are constantly chasing the next best thing, trying to cover up any and all weaknesses in our lives. 

Nothing displays weakness more than the world of athletics. Every action not made or perfected in strength, is a sign of weakness. Instead of trying to escape our weakness as soon it surfaces, what if it became a place of contentment? It's no longer a word representing insults, hardships or offenses but rather a representation of strength found in God alone. 

If our goal is to bring glory to God through our sport, what better place to do that than in displaying where we are not enough and He is. Our strength as humans has a maximum, we will eventually come to the end of the rope where there is nothing left for us to pull from. God's strength is infinite and accessible to anyone who acknowledges Him. We must simply close our eyes, admit our weakness and let God display His strength through us. 

Works Cited:

Allie Beth Stuckey: You're Not Enough (& That's Okay)

Success Starts Within: How to Identify Your Strengths & Weaknesses as an Athlete

Photo Credit: Artist Rae Efa