WEAKNESS, FAILURE, FRUSTRATION, AND DESPAIR

 


Many are sold-out for Jesus, but we despair over our weakness and failure to overcome our fleshly afflictions (Romans 7:24-25; Galatians 5:17).  Consequently, we wonder, “What is wrong?” and despair even of our trust in our Savior.

However, Jesus assures us that this struggle is normal for the Christian, even blessed:

•    Matthew 5:3–6 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.”

Our frustrations and despair with ourselves is the process of dying to the self and living for God. This leads us to prayer, thanksgiving, and rejoicing! In what? That we can no longer trust in ourselves but to Christ alone, our only hope:

•    1 Corinthians 1:28–31 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Why then do we hope and boast in Jesus? Because He is our only hope and the One who loves us. Consequently, we want to be like Him and to devote ourselves fully to Him, but how? We need to adopt a new way of thinking, through which we see that our brokenness, disdained by the world, but is beautiful before God:

•    Psalm 34:18–19 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all.

The marines might be looking for “a few good men,” but the Lord esteems the broken-hearted and draws close to us:

•    Psalm 51:16–17 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.

Our offering to God is our neediness and self-despair. Since this is the last thing that we want surrender, our Lord has to nurture neediness within us:

•    2 Corinthians 4:7–11 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

If we want to be like Jesus, we are coerced to trust in Him through our suffering and self-despair. We are forced to walk on the water as He had, terrified with each step. We are required to give up what is most valuable to us, as Abraham was required to sacrifice Isaac and as the Father sacrificially sacrificed His beloved Son.

However, we cannot do this on our own. Even the Apostle Paul required God’s help. Because of the many revelations he had received, pride stood knocking at his door. To drive pride away, God allowed Satan to afflict Paul with a “thorn in the flesh.” It must have been painful or even life-controlling. Therefore, Paul petitioned God repeatedly to take it away. However, God answered:

•    2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Paul would have to accept his weaknesses and afflictions so that the power of God would rest upon Him. We also must do this and even boast about our failures and insecurities, blessings in disguise!