“He helps us in our weakness….” (Romans 8:26)

I can still hear that fellow praying.  He said, “O Lord, I am so weak.  I am so pitiful, Lord.  How you can ever use a nothing like me is beyond me, Lord. I’m so ignorant, so fearful, such a sinner.”

I soon grew tired of his praying and all I was doing was listening.  I wondered how the Lord felt about it.

I think I know.

Our Heavenly Father takes it in stride.  He who created us knew from the beginning who we were. Nothing about us surprises Him.

He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust (Psalm 103:14).

It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps (Jeremiah 10:23).

The wonder is why you and I keep getting surprised by our weaknesses!

May I suggest you quit groveling in your self-pity, friend.  Okay, you have these weaknesses, these areas that throw you for a loop.  The Father knows this. He does not cast you away when it turns out you have a defect.  In fact, He took all this into His planning from the beginning.

It’s not about me. Keep saying that to yourself until it takes root.

Here are some thoughts to help you in that…

–1) He knows our weakness.

When Scripture says, “He is mindful that we are but dust,” it means He is under no illusions about us.  He knew He was getting no bargain when He saved us. When we falter along life’s way, the only one surprised is us.

–2) He takes our weaknesses in stride. 

He is not puzzled, does not panic, and neither does He cast us away.

“He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness’” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Since He knew this from the beginning, He made plans for dealing with our weaknesses.

–3) He helps us in our weakness.

This line is pure gold: “In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness….” (Romans 8:26) The word translated “helps” is synantilambanomai in the Greek.  That wonderful word is a compound verb, composed of “with”, “opposite to,” and a form of the verb meaning “to lift.”  Put together, this one word assures us the Holy Spirit is on the opposite end of our burdens, under them, lifting with us.  How good is that!

Imagine a fellow trying to pull a cross-cut saw by himself.  He cannot do it. But let a friend come along and get on the other end and it all works out. That’s the picture of Romans 8:26.

–4) Our weakness gives His strengths a place to shine.

“My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9)

If we could do it all ourselves, just think of the boasting we would do!  “I did this.”  “I made this.”  “Here is what I achieved.”  But instead…

We give glory to God.  He did it.  As the Psalmist said, He forgave my iniquities, healed my diseases, redeemed me from the pit, crowned me with lovingkindness and compassion, and satisfied my years with good things (Psalm 103:3-5).

–5) Therefore, I do not hesitate to own my weaknesses. 

“I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Cor 12:10)

I love this insight from Exodus 20.

This chapter which gives us the Ten Commandments also provides for an altar. Yep, the same chapter.  In the Ten Commandments, we have the Lord’s standard of our behavior.  But since he knows who He’s dealing with (smile, please), our wonderful Lord also built in a fail-safe plan for dealing with our weaknesses and failures.  He says, “An altar of earth you shall make for me, and you shall sacrifice on it your burnt offerings and your peace offerings…. I will come to you and will bless you” (Exodus 20:24).

What a wonderful Lord we serve.  A God of grace and of glory. He gives His standards, then provides for forgiveness when we do not measure up.  Are we blessed or what?

So, no groveling allowed, weak disciple of Jesus.  No whimpering admitted.  Stand up and be strong. .

Keep saying to yourself that it’s not about you.  “Not that we are sufficient to think anything of ourselves. But our sufficiency is of God” (2 Corinthians 3:5).

If that wonderful truth ever sinks in, your life will never be the same! As God said to Gideon, “Go in this thy strength and deliver Israel from the power of Midian.  Have I not sent you?” (Judges 6:14).

If you are like me, Christian, you may have to tell yourself this a few hundred times before it sets in. But it’s well worth the effort.