finally I can accept my weakness

Feeling alone?
Defeated?
Rug pulled out
right from under you?

As if whatever you put
your hand to, it never seems
to go your way...
and you're powerless
to accomplish that which
you desire most in life?

Have I got a WORD for you!
Literally.

asthenieia: want of strength,
weakness, illness, suffering calamity

But you don't want to be
weak or frail...
I get it, who does?

I feel this way often.
But this word is found not just
in people who are lacking something,
but one time in a person who
chose it.

Seeing then that we have
a great High Priest who has
passed through the heavens,
Jesus the Son of God,
let us hold fast our confession.

For we do not have a High Priest
who cannot sympathize
with our weaknesses,
but was in all points tempted
as we are, yet without sin.

Let us therefore come boldly
to the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy and
find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16 NKJV

Weakness...
Jesus chose it over strength...
for a time, so that He could
better understand us,
better relate to us and
the choices we make, both
toward Him and away from Him.

This God-Man, who put on flesh,
disconnected Himself from
the trinity... never before separate
from the Father and Spirit...
and came to earth to live
as a human, die as a criminal...
chose to give up a great deal
of His heavenly power,
so that He could realte to us;
so that He could understand us
and this weakness
from which we suffer.

When we feel alone and
defeated, as if the rug
has been pulled out
right from under us,
we NEED to KNOW that
our God gave up His power
so that He could be for us
a High Priest like no other,
not just offering a sacrifice for our sins...
rather actually becoming that sacrifice.

Beause He lived out a life
that included all the temptations
all the frustrations,
all the pressures and distractions
this world throws at us.

All so that He could sympathize
with our weakness...
asthenieia, our want of strength.

We are overcome with this feeling,
this "illness," if you will, because
as it's definition proves...
we lack the necessary resources,
we are depleated and insufficient,
unable to achieve anything great,
destitute of power among men.

And this is the great ill for which
our Messiah came and suffered...
the illness for which He was beaten,
gave up His power temporarily
so that He could die to it.

But then after three days
in that dark tomb...
He rose again, defeating death
conquering all weakness...
defeating sin, fear and death.

For when we were
still without strength,
in due time,
Christ died for the ungodly.
Romans 5:6

This is my celebration today...
that I know my weakness,
that I can finally accept it
realizing how Jesus sympathizes
with it completely.

In fact, He subjected Himself
to it so He could better know me.

That's the loving God
which came for me...
who came for you as well.

Won't you open your heart
to Him this holiday season?
​
Weakness and all...
He longs to give you strength
because He truly understands.

Word of God
train me today...
To embrace my weakness, grateful
that You, Lord, know exactly how I feel.

To receive Your grace and mercy,
boldy coming before Your throne
asking for strength in my time of need...
knowing that You will empower me.