Weaknesses - Friend or Foe?

“Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside…‘Follow my lead…do exactly as I do.  When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then…blow yours and shout, ‘For the Lord…’” Judges 7:16-18.

I am unsure as to why I have always been insecure but I really don’t remember a time when I was not.  This certainly mushroomed into adulthood and put me on a crash course to prove myself.  I was constantly measuring myself against others and seldom measured up.   My insecurities have certainly been a source of weakness for me and it is something I must work through even today.  Today’s Bible Study has blessed my spirit so much that I wrote certain truths down on an index card to carry with me throughout my days.  When the Lord gives us truth … truth that will be a spiritual game changer…know that Satan will try to steal it from our hearts.  We must be intentional in tucking God’s revelations deep in our hearts where Satan cannot reach. 

Gideon went into the battle arming his troops with the weakest of weapons…a trumpet and an empty clay pitcher with a torch inside.  At the appropriate time, he promised to blow the trumpet first, signaling each man to sound his trumpet, shatter the clay vessel and expose the light.  By doing this it appeared to the enemy that they were surrounded by a powerful and vast army.  Imagine if one man blew his own trumpet early instead of waiting on the leader to signal the exact time.  Imagine if the clay pitchers were not fragile enough to break.  What would have happened if this plan had not been executed perfectly?  Defeat would have happened instead of victory. 

God has made each of us with certain weaknesses that roll out the red carpet for His strength and power.  They are not something we should try to change but realize that our weaknesses are cracks that allow His light to shine through just like the clay pitchers.  It is when we are our most fragile that we are broken before the world for His light to illuminate.  We will experience defeat when we blow our own horn instead of waiting for God’s signal and speaking His words.  My Bible Study states that the pitchers’ value was twofold…its importance didn’t come from its composition but rather its contents.  Our importance is not based on our earthly resume but what we carry in our hearts.  Secondly, the pitchers’ importance came from its weakness.  We all have the privilege of carrying the Light of God in our hearts, but must be transparent enough for others to see the cracks.  You cannot see the Light without the cracks.  The best news I heard this morning is a truth I will not soon forget.

‘Your weakness is not a liability.  It is one of your greatest assets.  God’s presence and power are best seen when our large, impressive personalities aren’t getting in the way.  So welcome His light into your weakness, and let it shine, let it shine, let it shine!’ Gideon, p. 125.