A young man who did not have a left arm wanted to compete in martial arts. He found a teacher to train him, but the teacher only taught him one move. Other competitors would learn many more, and the young man just knew he was going to lose in an upcoming competition. As it turns out, he won not only his first round, but also the next, and the one after that, all the way to the final round.
Shocked that one move could have gotten him this far, he goes on to win the entire competition. He was utterly dumbfounded. He found his teacher and asked him how this could be possible. His teacher explained that the move he taught him is powerful, but that it was this particular student’s ‘disability’ that made him unbeatable.
Why? The only way for his opponents to get out of that particular hold would have been to grab his left arm.
It is from our wounds and weaknesses that we are truly able to minister.
Each of us has a wound, a weakness; something that is broken, hurts, or missing.
This may be hard to hear, but get ready: this is truly where our strength lies.
Don’t just take my word for it. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 “ but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
It is from our wounds and weaknesses that we are truly able to minister. This doesn’t include wounds that are still healing, but once we have healed and overcome these wounds, we can truly speak to the heart of others going through the same trials. Hurts and injuries from our past are not weaknesses, but truly strengths that help us build up the Kingdom of God here on earth.
Is there anything that keeps you from seeing your weaknesses as strengths?
[tweetthis remove_hidden_hashtags=”true”]It’s from our weaknesses we’re truly able to minister. #youthminister #grace #ministry[/tweetthis]