Boast in Your Weakness

I really refrained from asking the question of why we show our successes and not our failures because I know so much we are taught that we don't want to give the enemy ammo, we don't want to overshare, it's wisdom and all those things in between.

Yet I'm reminded of Paul boasting about his weaknesses he even tells us that he did the things he didn't want to do. He speaks of his struggle with elegance and without oversharing.

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. -2 Cor. 12:9

For I do not understand my own actions [I am baffled and bewildered by them]. I do not practice what I want to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate [and yielding to my human nature, my worldliness—my sinful capacity]. -Romans 7:15 AMP

I will not pretend to know everything at this point but I do see how this is impacting our future generations...

Recently as a believer who hadn't smoked or drank in years as I wanted to do everything right. I did again and the shame that came made me want to run from God and hide. I felt like there is no way I am called to spread the gospel because I can't seem to do right.

Some would say I should have been in a church which I was, reading my word which I was as well as fasting and praying yet I still messed up. Yet this was humbling because I was reminded that it was only God's grace that had brought me out of bondage to sin.

That I didn't have to be perfect and earn his love. See his love is what kept me from going into the pits of shame and forfeiting my future because I felt unworthy. I know most people may not understand why I'm writing this today, but God does.

God knows my heart is to reach those who feel that they are covered in shame. Who may see me and think that the relationship she has with God is impossible to obtain. That everything is good in my life and that I don't struggle.

This post is for those who know what it feels like to need hope and love in the midst of your failures. This post is to remind you that God's love covers a multitude of sins. This is not an endorsement to stay stuck in the hurt and the shame but a hand to help pull you out of it.

See I won't speak for everyone but I will speak for myself. There have been times when I just wish as a believer I can be more honest with the struggle that comes through the persecution there are times when all you can do is cry to God.

There are times your faith is shaken, times where you feel like giving up. See as God did me I'm telling you what you're signing up for. You will be persecuted, talked about, and suffer but the GREAT NEWS is that through this all GOD IS GOOD AND HE LOVES YOU! Not how your family does, and not how your friends do.

He chases us down with HIS love even when it's not beneficial for Him. We are loved even when we do wrong and this love helps us to do right. The love of God not only encourages us but it changes us, refines us, and shows us the need for improvement areas in the most tender and kind ways. Now, some need tough love as children for those ones he knows what is needed to change their hearts.

So if your feel like you're never going to come out, that there is no way you can be forgiven for your mistakes, and that all hope is lost I came to let you know there is hope. That the one true living God can take everything you've been through and turn it around for your good. All that suffering is just preparation and will turn for your good. I won't promise every day will be easy yet you'll have hope in God's renewing, redeeming, and refining strength.

Also for those who are believers, please share your stories with boldness, courage, and transparency because you don't know whose life depends on it. Self-righteousness is never a good look, so let us stay humble so that we can be used for God's glory.