The Right Kind Of Weakness
Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada on this National Rehabilitation Week.
Yep, today, 50-some-odd years ago, I was in rehabilitation, learning how to live life from a wheelchair. And after many weeks of demanding physical therapy, I quickly learned how weak I really am. And it is still the same today. Yep, I am your weak friend in the wheelchair.
And please notice I did not say that I am your “strong” friend in the wheelchair. Believe me, my quadriplegia, my limitation, my wheelchair – these things are constantly reminding me that I am so weak and needy. I cannot do my disability on my own. I need help, and I need a lot of it. But maybe that’s my secret to being strong in the Lord. I’m a little … no I take that … I think I’m a lot like David who summarizes himself this way at the end of Psalm 40: David says, “As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me.” Now that is quite a statement for King David to make. I mean, one glimpse at the Old Testament, and you see David as a mighty warrior, he’s a courageous leader, a valiant soldier, a strong commander. All these things come to mind when we hear stories about King David. But look here – here’s David telling everybody, including God, “I am poor and needy.” And I would say the same.
People look at me and they think I’m strong and courageous in this wheelchair. But if this wheelchair’s taught me anything, it’s shown me that I am weak, and I am poor, and I am so needy. King David and I have something important in common: we both have cultivated the right kind of weakness – that is, a basic sense of neediness which always honors God. And it is this weakness, this need of the Lord, that leads directly to the kind of strength, a strength grounded and founded in need. Oh, friend, what a wonderful way to look at yourself: poor and needy and grateful that your strength is in Jesus.
And Jesus underscored the same way of looking at things when He gave us the Beatitudes. As my friend David Powlison puts it, “The Beatitudes show us how the right kind of weakness … leads directly to the right kind of strength. Because think about the Beatitude where Jesus says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted.” I mean, Jesus calls us to find courage in affliction, find perseverance in opposition. Courage and perseverance are wonderful traits. And they’re traits of strength, but they spring from the weakness of affliction and persecution, hardship and hurt. And look at the other Beatitudes. Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” Who are the poor in spirit? Well, they are people who know they need help outside themselves. But that’s the secret to their strength. And then look at this Beatitude: “Blessed are the meek.” To be meek is to have a positive view on your weakness. It is to humbly submit yourself under the hand and will of God.
So, friend, boast in your weakness. Because you can’t do it on your own. Let your limitations and needs show you how to cultivate the right kind of weakness, which always honors God. I mean, honestly, this is exactly why the Bible tells you to glory in your limitations and delight in your infirmities. Boast in Jesus who although He was rich, became poor. Boast in Jesus who although He was God, still hungered after righteousness for your sake. If you’re feeling weak and needy today, start boasting in Jesus, the One who, for your sake, became utterly dependent and needy. He died in weakness so that you, dear friend, might have His strength today. And that is something to boast about. God bless you and thanks for listening to Joni and Friends.
© Joni and Friends
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