It’s Okay to Admit Weakness… It’s in Our Nature

Well, I think it has been thoroughly established at this point that I am a weak human. Now, to redeem myself only somewhat, I don’t mean this to say that as far as humans go, I am a weak one… but rather that, as humans, we are weak… & I am no exception.

I know this is counter-culture for me to say this & be okay with it. Our culture screams self-sufficiency as the goal, the thing to admire in someone…. But I disagree.

It’s okay to admit our weakness, because as humans… we ARE weak.

We Need to be More Okay with Letting Others Know They’re Not Alone in Their Weakness

I cannot even tell you how many times at this point that I have gone on social media to share my weakness of the day, whether it be a bad attitude or just feeling so BLAH that I don’t feel up to doing anything, or whatever else it may be that I am facing… & to then pray through it, leaning on God for help. It’s seems like God urges me to share my every weakness with the world in an effort to reveal Him as my true strength.

I have to tell you, my default is selfishness. My default is “look out for numero uno.” My default is complaining & whining & just wanting to quit when things get hard. My default is seeking out comfort. My default is wanting to be completely self-sufficient, not NEEDING God, but knowing He’s there for me “just in case.” Ha. My default wants to do what I want more than what God wants.

If you ever see anything different out of me, it is not because I am some superhuman Christian, or even that me being a Christian somehow makes me superhuman… Nope. But, as a Christian, I do have access to GOD’s superhuman strength & power.

But I still have to CHOOSE to surrender to His will & way & help, otherwise, my humanness is just as humanly weak as any other person out there, Christian or not.

I Don’t Just Choose Jesus, I NEED Jesus

The more that I grow, the more glaringly obvious my sinful nature & my need for Jesus becomes.

I thought I had to be good enough… not for Jesus to pay my debt to God really, but to be good enough to be in God’s good graces. I mistakenly thought it was up to ME to be faithful, obedient, etc…. in MY strength & MY willpower.

But I was wrong.

If you’re feeling tired in life right now, you are not alone. Judging by the memes & social media posts I see shared frequently, that seems to be a majority of the population right now, quite often including me.

But don’t let tired keep you fooled. You were never meant to be able to do this life on your own. You were made to NEED God’s help.

Ask God’s Forgiveness for Wanting to Do It in Your OWN Strength Versus Needing to Rely on HIS

That’s an uncomfortable concept to me, if I am being completely honest with you… which is why I know that I NEED to ask God’s forgiveness when I have a bad attitude, when I am grumpy & “done” with everything on a given day… because what that reveals in me is my not wanting to need Him.

I want to feel capable & strong & alert & self-sufficient & ready for my day, confident that I am fully capable to handle whatever comes my way, & when that’s not really my vibe that day, I feel annoyed & frustrated & tired with all of it… when I should be humble in accepting my human frailty & joyful in knowing that God is never fragile & He always makes Himself available to me (& to you).

God has proven Himself to me more times than I can count, though I try to document them as best I can through this blog, acting as a growing testimony of all He is to me & all He has done in & through my life. But I still find myself wanting to rely on myself instead.

God Is Capable of WAY MORE Than We Could Ever Give Him Credit For

I was the doubter of doubters, the key word being: WAS.

I know now what He is capable of. I have learned to trust that He CAN, even when I don’t see any possible way for that to be true. He is above me, beyond me. Thank GOD.

His ways are higher than mine. (Isaiah 55:9) He can do far more than I could ever ask or THINK. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Do you know why the little repeated phrase in the Bible that says, “FEAR GOD,” (Proverbs 9:10) has become SUCH a comfort to me? Because it’s a reminder that God is GOD. And I am not.

Don’t Let Tired Fool You

Lean into God for help. LET Him BE your strength. Don’t let tired fool you.

You may think in your heart, “yeah, yeah, God is my strength,” as if to say, “yeah, I get it, He’s God & now I have His strength, so I should be able to do this.” NO. I am saying, “you may be a Christian, but you are STILL HUMAN. Take that humanness to Him, admit your limitations to Him, & ASK Him to be your enough IN it & THROUGH it. Consistently SUBMIT to Him AS your strength. It’s not just a once & done, but a continually laying down of yourself in exchange for His Godness to take the reins of your life.”

Seek & You SHALL Find

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

“You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” (James 4:3)

If you don’t feel God filling in as you pray… being your enough in it… are you asking Him to help you feel self-capable again? Or are you asking to see Him be capable FOR you?

Are you asking Him to reinforce your will or way? Or are you submitting to HIS being done?

Shine HOPE by not letting “tired” have the final say. Trust that God is bigger & greater & mightier than your biggest, greatest, & mightiest limitations. He will ENABLE you to do His will AS you lean into Him AS your strength every step of it.

AMEN.

Coming Next Week

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As God grows me, may it encourage you to seek Him & know Him & love Him more every day.

A Note from Michelle:

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Fashion as a Force for GOOD:

Each week, I feature an item that is changing lives for women around the world. These hand-crafted pieces are offering job creation opportunities for women artisans in impoverished nations all around the world! Consider these pieces when shopping for friends, family, or yourself. Check out this week’s featured beauty!!

Chai Crossbody (INDIA)

This gorgeous camel-colored Chai Crossbody Bag can be used as an on-trend belt bag or as a Crossbody bag. The removable and adjustable strap has a subtle block print pattern. The ethically made Chai Crossbody is handcrafted in India and features an exterior slip pocket, interior zipper pocket, interior slip pocket, and leather shoulder strap. The interior is lined in a tan fabric with a fun poppy print on it.

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