"Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we will boast in the name of the Lord, our God" - Psalm 20:7
Two brothers in Christ were riding on a car ride with one another, and as the one brother was driving, a crazy driver cut him off and almost hit them. After noticing this brother who was driving remained so calm, having had for some time a long-held respect for this brother's spiritual maturity, the passenger asked this brother, “How are you so strong? You don’t seem to be bothered so much. You don’t seem to struggle so much. You don’t seem to get angry.” The man replied, “I’m not strong, I’m weak. I’m constantly praying, and needing to get some word from the Lord to carry me through things. Constantly. When this guy almost hit us, I was praying in my heart, “Lord help me.” I always pray for help. And God gives it. I’m not strong, I’m weak. I pray. And if I’m still struggling, I keep praying. And God provides. I’m not strong, I’m very weak.”
This man asked him: “How are you able to stand strong against and overcome lust and pornography, how are you so strong? He said, “I’m not strong, I’m weak. So when I sense temptation coming I flee. I know I’m weak. If I see an immodest woman coming I have to flee with my eyes and stare at the ground and pray for God’s help. I’m not strong I’m weak. That’s why God helps. And if I fall, I repent and ask God to lift me up. And over time, I'm still weak - just as weak as anyone, but I learn to reach up in weakness quicker. I don't get stronger. I get better at weakness.”
This man asked the other: “Well how are you able to be a wise and strong leader and lead your family, raising your kids, helping your wife in the home on top of work, etc, it seems so easy for you? How are you so strong?” He said, “I’m not strong, I’m weak. I can’t lead, I have to constantly pray and get counsel from godly brothers I trust who have already raised godly families, and I question myself and judge myself and seek wisdom, and repent of what I’m doing wrong, and seek God’s Word to figure out if I’m doing things right. I’m not strong. I'm not wise - I don’t know what I’m doing, really. I’m not strong, I’m weak - and so God helps me.”
This man asked the other, “Ok well how are you so strong in faith to stay so positive in the middle of all this trials you have? How are you so strong?” He said, “I’m not strong. I’m often tempted with doubt and discouragement so I have to keep going back to the Lord all the time to get some word to carry me through, constantly driven to the Bible to find some answer, some principle there for my situation until the Holy Spirit confirms it, or some mature brother to talk to. And the Lord provides - some word, or some answer, or some path, some confirmation. Whatever I need. Every time. That’s it. I have no strength, I’m weak. I have to keep going back to the Lord to carry me through. I’ve seen myself fall enough, God helps the weak, not the strong who can figure it out on their own. He gives grace (strength) to the humble who know they’re weak and lacking, not the proud who think they’re so strong and clever.”
The secret of strength is not strength but leaning in weakness - on God. It’s not clever reasoning, it’s leaning. We need less thinking, more leaning. It’s not more will power, it’s more leaning. It’s not more knowledge, it’s more leaning. “Trust in (lean on) the Lord, and don’t lean on your own understanding” (Prov 3:5). God doesn’t help the strong, He helps the weak. The secret of strength is not strength, it’s weakness, and to know my weakness. Not just weakness - but CONSTANT weakness.
Jesus taught this way so clearly, how to live this life, as this brother observed that the “strong” brother was living:
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4-5
So many of our pains are the loving hand of God allowing them, to make us more weak so we can have this life, to be weak, and not so 'strong'. Weakness is not our problem, strength is. Trials are not our problem, self-confidence is. Paul was one who learned weakness through a deep trial of suffering:
“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power (strength) of Christ may dwell in me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
But the perfect Master of weakness was Jesus Himself:
“Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself...” John 5:19