This article is not for those who feel themselves strong, competent, and able to meet whatever comes. It is for those who know they are weak — those who look toward life ahead and see difficulties and dangers and the need of more strength than they possess. It is for those who sometimes say with Paul, “Who is sufficient for these things?” (2 Corinthians 2:16).
Paul knew he was weak. He wrote to the Corinthians, “I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling” (1 Corinthians 2:3). Paul was not naturally a weakling. He had strong qualities of leadership, yet he said, “We are weak” (4:10).
Paul’s profession of weakness was not a pretense; he was not saying it merely for effect; he felt that he was weak. He was not ashamed to admit that he was weak; in fact, he gloried in his weakness. His weakness served an excellent purpose in his life; for by recognizing it, he could be made strong. We are told of those who out of weakness were made strong, and did great and valiant deeds. Paul said, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10) His recognition of his weakness brought him into an attitude that prepared him to receive the power of God.
Yes, we are weak — but what of it? Paul says our weakness merely gives God his opportunity to assist us. He did not lament his weakness; it cleared the way of all pride of self, of all trusting in his own strength, of all self-sufficiency. It made him rely utterly upon Christ, and doing so he was neither afraid of his weakness nor of life, but confident and victorious for both the present and the future.
Paul said that God made us the weak human beings we are, for a purpose: “We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (2 Corinthians 4:7). Then Paul illustrated by his own experience what he meant: “We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed” (vss. 8-9). Paul had many troubles — but there was the power of God upholding, strengthening, and making him able for whatever came.
To the church in Philadelphia came this message: “You have a little strength” (Rev. 3:8). The members of this church were not strong and mighty, but they were not altogether without strength. Their little strength had made them able to do two things: they had kept God’s word, and had not denied his name. They had only a little strength, but that little strength was sufficient for success.
Did you ever hear of trigger action? Where great potentials of electricity are used, there is often a great switch which would be very dangerous for one to handle because of the electric arc formed when it is thrown — so a little switch is rigged up which controls the larger switch. This switch, placed in a safe place, serves as a trigger to actuate and to control the master switch. The so-called electric eyes are sensitive to light, and light falling upon the bulb causes a small electric current to flow according to the intensity of the light. This small current of electricity is often used as a control to turn on or off the lights of a great city, and as a control for power in many other ways.
That little electric current produces enormous results. It has only a little strength, as you and I have. Our little strength, like the little strength actuating the relay, can control an immense amount of spiritual power. In other words, our little strength turns on the power of God, which is waiting to operate when the occasion demands. You may be weak, you may have but a little strength, but you do have that. You have some faith, some knowledge, some ability in many directions.
We are too prone to think that we have to do everything that is done, that it all depends upon our strength. Then if we feel weak, we know that we can accomplish little. So we shrink before our tasks, we tremble before responsibilities, we draw back from difficulties, and say, “Oh, I am so weak — how can I go on? How can I be victorious?” Just in one way: by using your strength, not to do the task, but to turn on God’s power. Use your strength as a relay. Paul said, “It is God who works in you.”
Charles Wesley Naylor is considered one of the most prolific and inspiring songwriters of the Church of God. He was bedridden for much of his adult life but wrote eight books, a newspaper column and more than 150 songs. Many of his writings are in the public domain.
