Strength in Your Weakness

Today’s blog post is contributed by David Trotta:

His (Uzziah’s) fame spread far and wide, for the Lord gave him marvelous help, and he became very powerful. But when he had become powerful, he also became proud, which led to his downfall. (2 Chronicles 26:15-16)

God’s help is what made Uzziah successful, but he let that success go to his head.  He no longer needed God.  After all, he had raised up an army of highly trained warriors equipped with the best equipment. He built fortified towers and had many victories.

Unlike the newly crowned 16 year old who desperately needed God, Uzziah tasted success and began to think he was “all that” when it came to running a kingdom.  But his pride led to his downfall.

Were you ever asked to do something that brought much fear and trembling in the beginning?  I mean knee knocking, palm sweating fear and trembling?  Maybe a new job or a new ministry opportunity that stretched you way beyond your comfort zone?

During times like that we tend to rely heavily on God, pleading with Him not to let us fail.  But then as we become more comfortable and experienced success, we back off on our reliance on God and begin to think “I got this?”

We may even have looked back and thought our fear and trembling was a sign of weakness.

But reliance on God is when His power is free to flow the greatest.  In 2 Corinthians 12:9, God told the apostle Paul "My power works best in weakness," which prompted Paul to say “So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

Paul didn’t rejoice in his strengths, but in his weaknesses. That is so contrary to what the world teaches, but it is the secret to living a powerful life in Christ.

As my pastor said this past weekend “success in the Kingdom is only possible when you realize there is strength in your weakness and weakness in your strength.”

Uzziah rejoiced in his strength and became weak.  Paul rejoiced in his weakness and became strong.

As God uses you, never leave that place of reliance on Him, no matter how much success you taste.