Your perceived weakness may be your hidden strength, all along!

"Whose weakness was turned...to strength" - Hebrews 11:34 I always thought that verse solely meant that God, in some mysterious fashion, changed weakness into strength, or in other words something bad is literally replaced by something good. I believed this until I was led to understand it differently. What if your weakness has been an actual strength all along? What if what's truly weak is our vision; One's inability to accurately discern the truth about something or someone due to a prejudice or lack of understanding? What if your perceived curse is actually your hidden blessing all along? I'll give you an example from the 1987 Romantic Comedy "Roxanne" staring Steve Martin and Darrel Hannah. In this story you have a Fire Chief played by Steve Martin who is in love with a beautiful, new to the neighborhood city girl, played by...Darrel Hannah. The Fire Chief is quite literally the perfect guy; He's funny, charismatic, resourceful and brilliant wordsmith. However he has one decided flaw or in his mind a massive problem...he has an extraordinary big nose. And by big I mean Pinocchio sized, which he in turn judges to be the main problem as to why he has no lady at his side. At one point in the movie, in a moment of frustration, he visits a plastic surgeon, to get his nose done. The surgeon asks a surprising question..."have you considered that your large nose could be a gift from God?" Steve Martin's character can barely entertain such a preposterous thought until...later on, there is a fire which no one in the town has detected except for one man with an exceptional keen sense of smell. You guessed it, the Fire Chief. Suddenly the thing he misdiagnosed as an absolute curse from God through a simple change in circumstance became a huge blessing; a life saving tool that had he not had, would have most likely resulted in the complete destruction of property and certain death of the town mascot. You get the analogy. Sometimes the thing you despise the most can become the greatest of assets through a simple change of context. Jesus's death looked like an embarrassing defeat to the Kingdom of Heaven but in actuality it was the greatest victory since the existence of humanity! The Apostles couldn't see it when it happened but as time unfolded, it became exceedingly clear to everyone. Before you relegate some part of your life as a complete throw-away and worthless to the core. Wait, let time decide what is true. You never know, God changes the context and suddenly the despised attribute becomes a celebrated blessing from Above. Just ask Bethany Hamilton after she came back from a serious shark attack that left her short one arm. She thought her surfing career had come to an abrupt and horrifying end. However the truth is, it was just beginning and the impact she would make to millions across the globe of overcoming fear, tragedy and living to your full potential despite setbacks has been awe-inspiring. Just ask Nick Vujicic who was born with no arms and legs and has now become an inspiration and minister of the gospel to millions around the world...the list goes on and on. "Whose weakness was turned to strength." Turned not by some magic wand from Heaven but through a changed mind-set and through a change of context; a particular need arises and suddenly a revelation of it's usefulness becomes apparent. Not all weakness is operating on this principle but I do believe some are. I was a severe asthmatic as a child, in and out of hospitals for many years, until I was dramatically healed by the power of God at age 19. What seemed to be an absolute curse with zero positive value of any kind, changed through an epiphany one day where I could finally appreciate its value and benefit that this struggle had produced within me. That is to say for one thing...It's made me a FIGHTER! Having struggled through breathing trouble all my adolescent and teenage years, where doctors told me there was no way I could run and play sports like other kids, I was determined to prove them wrong. And we did prove them wrong with God's help. It wasn't always easy but I grew up playing all the active sports I loved; track & field, tennis, swimming, rugby and so on. Refusing to allow the fear of bringing on another asthma attack to rule my life. It's made me into a different kind of human, it's ironed out and evolved my character to one who JUST WONT GIVE UP! In addition, that hardship has produced a most valuable commodity in my life and ministry called, COMPASSION. If Christ was moved by compassion and Love is the generator of real faith then maybe your 'weakness' is actually the answer to your prayer for more of the heart of God! Some good things can only be produced through the challenges and trials of life. Trust that the thing you hate and despise right now could potentially be a huge benefit and blessing for you and countless others in the future. Overcoming obstacles has made me into a better leader, father and husband to my loving wife. I owe a great deal to that struggle, way more than I realized back then and now I thank God for that 'weakness' for through it I have been made strong! And so are the things you have had to overcome in your life, they produce in you a inner-fortitude, a resolve, a gumshin, a no I will never quit kind of attitude. Why? Because like King David, you have had to fight some battles in the field, wrestle some giants in the hills and kill some lions in the valley; be it physical, emotional or psychological, they prepared you for ruling and reigning in the Kingdom. These fierce opponents had to be overcome in order to produced a certain disposition, a sharper mind-set and a stronger attitude within you. Maybe your "weakness" is what it has actually been all along, a strength! And it's you perception of it that is being turned by a simple change of context in your life in some way. Something to think about. I pray that this message causes you to look at your hardship differently as well as encourage you to not give up. Pastor Grant

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