Perfect Weakness

I sat recently having dinner with a friend.

We were exchanging the usual banter and laughs when she made a comment about herself that was quite self-defeating. So as you would expect from any ‘good friend/person’ I countered it.

I was shocked with her response.

“Alright Mr Perfect. We haven’t all had the perfect life, like you have.”

…What.

That was my first response. I was hurt.

She then proceeded to ramble off a short and shallow list of stuff to legitimise her hypothesis.

How far off she was. We know that ‘Things aren’t always as they appear‘, and so just as I was about to go in and tell her how stupid she was being.

It thunder bolted me. This was my fault.

To her, I do appear somewhat perfect, like I’ve made no mistakes (I have. Major ones) and as if I don’t understand or have experienced failure. (I have. BIG ones)

But, I choose not to really speak about them. Who goes around proclaiming their weakness, mistakes and failures? Hardly anyone.

I’m still not even over some of mine. They still get to me…

But. When I have opened up (appropriately). My weaknesses, my mistakes and my story (colourful story) of my life so far – can help someone. (One of the reasons I decided to blog)

While writing this brief blog, I remembered a story in the Bible. The Apostle Paul wrote the following:

“Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

So next time – will we decide to open up about our fears, weaknesses and mistakes for the benefit of someone else?

God knows there are many.

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