Why did Jesus teach us to pray, “Do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from the evil one”?
Satan, our enemy, knows our areas of weakness, and he will use them against us.
But the good news is that our weaknesses, not strengths, draw us closer to God.
Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 12:8-9, “Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time, he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses so Christ’s power can work through me. I enjoy my weaknesses and the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
What lessons can we apply from Paul in these verses?
Here are some lessons I learned through this passage:
1). Our weaknesses stop us from becoming proud.
Paul writes, “So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.”
I have discovered that on many occasions, I have found that with my weakness, there’s always a strength that God has given me, so I don’t boast about what I can do but what He can do through me.
For example, one of my weaknesses is writing. I always felt anxious whenever I had to write an essay in school or even teach it to my students. Yet God turned that weakness into strength for His glory. He called me to write encouraging words for others based on my life storms. This is all Him because writing is one of my weaknesses.
2). Our weakness creates fellowship with others.
Our struggles show how much we need the support of others. Many of our trials help us encourage others going through a similar situation.
Vance Havner once said, “Christians, like snowflakes, are frail, but when they stick together, they can stop traffic.” How right he was.
3.) Our weakness enables us to help others.
The things we’re so afraid to share with others are what God uses to help us help others. I know this to be true. God doesn’t call the qualified; He qualifies the caller.
Lord, thank You for being my strength and my strong tower.
You are the One who gives me the strength to do what I’m unable to do and the courage to make a difference in this world. Thank you for your guidance and love, in Jesus’s name, amen.
Reference
- The Holy Bible, New Living Translation. (1996). Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Foundation.
- Vance Havner. April 6, 2007. Purpose-driven Life
- Editor: Carmen Almodovar, Virginia,