For our final gleanings on weakness and its benefits we turn to the Apostle Paul — one who was keenly aware of his weakness and inadequacy. He used words like “always” and “constantly” when referring to the hardships he encountered. And then there was the constant plague of that debilitating thorn in his flesh. His summary is telling: “we are afflicted in every way.”
Yet, he says, “we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are decaying, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary afflictions are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal” (2 Cor 4:16-18).
Our present bodies — these jars of clay — are full of weakness; they’re decaying and perishing; they’re full of dishonor. Yet one day they’ll be raised in power, imperishable, and with fantastic glory! (1 Cor 15:42, ff.)
It’s as if the weakness is partly there to help us yearn for the day when all this is
behind us… to keep us from getting too attached to these inferior, broken-down, sin-marred bodies of ours… to remind us that “this world is not my home — I’m just a travelin’ through!”
Why weakness? Weakness is our friend if it dissatisfies us with this present life, if it points us to the glory awaiting us at the resurrection to eternal life, if it fixes our eyes on the unseen rather than the seen.
As we bring this brief survey on weakness to a close, it is highly probable that God has entrusted you with some sort of affliction. Is it to help you realize your need of His strength? to better display His power? to keep you from exalting yourself? to refine your character? to discipline you? to allow you to identify with Christ? so that you would have a costly offering to give your Savior? to keep you from becoming too attached to your mortal body? or some combination of these?
Blessings,