With Weakness, Comes Strength

 

By Anne C. Pingree

     At every stage of our lives, we struggle to overcome our weaknesses. And as we do, we reflect on the familiar words of an ancient prophet who agonized over his own weakness. As Moroni labored to chronicle sacred events on metal plates, he was deeply concerned about his weakness in writing. Perhaps, he worried, future readers would not be able to feel the power of the inspired messages he was recording (see Ether 12:23–26).

     When he humbly turned to the Lord, the Lord revealed these words to him:

“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27). 

      As Elder Neal A. Maxwell (1926–2004) observed: “It is not an easy thing … to be shown one’s weaknesses. … Nevertheless, this is part of coming unto Christ, and it is a vital, if painful, part of God’s plan of happiness.” ¹

      Some people feel defeated by their personal weaknesses and succumb to despair. Some attempt to hide, ignore, or compensate for their shortcomings because of pain and embarrassment. But, as the Lord told Moroni, recognizing and acknowledging a weakness is a necessary part of overcoming it: “Because thou hast seen thy weakness thou shalt be made strong” (Ether 12:37).

Turning to the Lord

     Sometimes, in spite of all we do to “make weak things become strong,” the Lord, in His infinite wisdom, does not take away our weakness. The Apostle Paul struggled throughout his life with “a thorn in the flesh,” which he said served to humble him “lest [he] should be exalted above measure” (2 Cor. 12:7). Three times Paul asked the Lord to take away his weakness, and three times the Lord declined to do so. The Lord then explained that His grace was sufficient for Paul and that, in fact, His strength was actually “made perfect in weakness.” Then Paul wrote, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

    “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Cor. 12:9–10).

    What a wonderful blessing it is to know Heavenly Father loves us so much that he does not care if we are weak, so long as we turn to him and ask in Christ name for help in becoming stronger. I know that none of us are perfect and so there is no reason to fear what man thinks of us. To many times you will find us judging each other when it is not our place, especially when we have not taken the time to get to know someone personally. If we look at others the way Heavenly Father does we would love everyone. I know God loves all of us perfectly, no matter who we are, what we have done, or where we are in our lives currently. All he wants is to bless us as we humbly come before him in prayer. We must look for the good and the strengths in our brothers and sisters and build them up so that in turn they can do the same for those they know and love. I know as we reach to those who may feel inadequate or out of place, Heavenly Father will bless us and we will feel more joy and happieness in our lives.