Written by Pastor Jack Wellman– J.I.Packer
Strong When We’re Weak
The Apostle Paul had to have felt weak many times. He was deprived of sleep, food, and water in prison and in missionary work, but he also said that “I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2nd Cor 12:10), so “we are glad when we are weak and you are strong” (2nd Cor 13:9). The interesting thing is that when we are weak, God can show Himself strong because His power is more easily displayed in weak vessels like us.
Leaning on Christ
When we grow weak and life has battered us around, we can lean on Christ. There is strength in leaning upon the Rock and that Rock is Christ (1st Cor 10:4), and this is the Rock upon which we must build our house since “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matt 7:24). All other ground is sinking sand.
Strength from Him
The Bible clearly teaches us that without Christ, we can do nothing at all (John 15:5), however, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” (Phil 4:13). This is how Paul “learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need” (Phil 4:12). If we are weak, then Christ can strengthen us. We cannot strengthen ourselves any more than we can pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. We need Christ because we can’t do anything without Him and we are no match for the enemy of God.
Conclusion
J.I. Packer knew exactly what he was talking about by saying, “The weaker we feel, the harder we lean. And the harder we lean, the stronger we grow.” He knew that when we are weak, we can be strong in Christ because we can lean upon the Rock and draw strength from Him. We can do all things through Christ. Without Him we can do nothing at all!
