Beauty in Weakness

Usually we share on social media the parts of our lives that are spotless, beautiful, and exciting. No one wants to admit the difficult or the ugly. We like the cleaned-up version of ourselves. We present an image that beauty is found in personal strength.

Let me be honest here: 95% of my posts are written out of weakness. They’re not written on days when things are carefree or I have this light bulb revelation of truth that makes the day wonderful. Instead, they're written out of the nitty-gritty, challenging struggles of daily life. They come from my own wrestlings with truth. Honestly, it's a way of reminding myself of the hope found in the gospel.

I know I don't have anything new or profound to say. Many can write better than I. Some days I'm not even sure if my writing makes sense! But my desire in blogging is that out of my weakness and wrestlings you too will find hope. Just like the movies, where characters search for hope of a better future or a hero to save them, we too all long for hope. God placed this desire in us. Those battling chronic illness or chronic pain must continually fight for hope. Amazingly, there is a purpose in this:

God wants our struggles, weakness, and hopeless desperation to turn us to hope in Him.

Yet there are many days I don't find my hope in Him. In my pain or lack of healing, I question God or get angry at Him. However, in my doubting and sometimes sinful responses, one of the most encouraging reminders is the truth that God will not let me go. I assure you, had my hold on hope been left up to me, I would've failed.

But God is faithful.

I don't mean to sound cliche. That powerful statement resonates deeply within me because I've experienced His faithfulness day-by-day over the last few years of intense chronic illness, as well as through several other deep heartaches and painful circumstances. There's no visible beauty in my weakness and sinful responses, but there is incredible beauty when my God perfects His strength in my weakness.

He is faithful to you in this way too. I know it doesn't feel like it. I know you may be doubting His goodness or wondering if He's even there. But no matter the pain, the heartache, the hurt, the struggles—if you are a child of God—He is holding onto you. He won't let you go.

God's unchanging character carries us through the deepest waters and the darkest moments:

"Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

"Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You preserve my life..." Psalm 138:7a

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1

If you're struggling today, don't lose hope even though you can't see how God is working. Keep crying out to Him. Landing on His promises. Trusting that He is faithful and He won't let you go. Do it again and again as you fight the feelings of discouragement and despair.

Learning to hope in God through suffering, while extremely difficult, is a more beautiful reality than the temporary glamor of a self-sufficient, successful life. And one that has much deeper impact. In God's goodness He is drawing you to Himself through your trials and causing you to become more dependent on Him. That will have a much greater reward than any success or accomplishment ever will. God's power and strength is vividly and powerfully displayed when you are weak.

This is the beauty found in weakness.