There can be no doubt that God is strong and mighty (see Ps 24:8). However,there are also times when we come face to face with paradox and have to learn the mysteries of the Godhead; times when to access God’s strength, we have to lay down our understanding of strength with all its limitations and find a new reality, a new dimension, a new definition of strength. Isaiah tells us that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways. (Is 55:8) Paul tells us that ‘God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong’ (1 Cor 1:27), reminding us that ‘the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.’ (1 Cor 1:25) Paul struggled with a ‘thorn in the flesh’ which tormented him (the word means ‘buffet’ or ‘maltreat’, or to punch with a fist.) Clearly Paul wanted to see God’s strength manifested in the removal of this thorn, but the answer he got was probably not one he wanted! ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ (2 Cor 12:9)
In our eyes, weakness and strength are opposites. Weakness is, in fact, defined in terms of the absence of strength; being weak is ‘lacking the power to perform physically demanding tasks; having little physical strength or energy.’ A secondary definition is no more encouraging than the first! – ‘liable to break or give way under pressure; easily damaged.’ But in God’s kingdom, weakness is not despised, for His way is the way of surrender and self-sacrifice, where vulnerability and weakness are not to be feared or shunned.
Jesus is indeed the mighty Creator, the all-powerful Word of God and the sustainer of our universe (Hebrews 1/ John 1.) He is the Messiah, the Chosen One of God, the Light of the World and the Resurrection and the Life. He is the Healer and Deliverer whose authority and power over creation, demonic forces, sickness and death are complete. John’s vision of Him is completely correct, with hair like wool and eyes like blazing fire and face shining like the sun in all its brilliance. (Rev 1:12-16) But He is also the Suffering Servant described by Isaiah: the one ‘despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain’ (Is 53:3), the one who ‘was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth.’ (Is 53:7)
God’s way of working through weakness is manifested at the Cross, where Jesus humbled Himself and became obedient to death. (see Phil 2:6-8) Far from being a defeat of God’s power, we see there God’s plan of salvation being outworked, with Christ’s resurrection demonstrating His total victory over death. (1 Cor 15:54-56, Eph 1:19-21) Strength is closely linked to humility and obedience and being prepared to lay down our lives. (Mark 8:34-35) There is strength in weakness and brokenness:
‘There is strength in my weakness
That only comes from You.
There is power in meekness
That I have found in You.
Where else can I go?
You know I’m weak;
I know You’re strong
You say when I’m broken
And can’t carry on
“Carry on!”
When all my strength is gone,
You’re still holding on.’ (‘Carry On’, Kutless)
Our weakness and brokenness might be hard for us to accept, but they are no barrier to receiving God’s strength. We may well be weary and weak, stumbling and falling, discouraged and even despairing, but as we wait and hope in the Lord, He will renew our strength and enable us to stand in His mighty power. (Is 40:29-31)