#366  10/30/06  God can turn a child’s weakness into a strength

I was recently reading Hebrews 11, the chapter that tells of our faith ancestors.  It has been called God’s Hall of Fame because it lists many of the personalities we know best from the history of God’s people.  One little phrase caught my attention.  Speaking of people who did great works by faith, it says, “…whose weakness was turned to strength.” Hebrews 11:34b.

Have you noticed how often great men and women of faith are using what was once a weakness to produce fruit for God? 

Something else that I have noticed during many years of listening to children and teens is that sometimes parents label a weakness and treat it as if it were a terminal handicap.

There is an incongruity between these two observations that can only point us toward God.  The truth is that God chooses to use our weaknesses because then we are absolutely certain that the power comes from God. 

I think that we need to help our children understand this concept.

Begin with your children’s early Bible stories by showing them how God used people who had weaknesses.  Tell them about Moses’ weakness as a speaker, Joshua’s fighting a battle with only trumpets and Peter’s denial of Christ.  Help them see that these people were human, flawed and often frightened.  Yet, God used them.  He was able to use them only because they allowed the Holy Spirit to work through them.

After laying a foundation of stories from the Bible, help your child see that his own weakness may very well be something that God wants to use for his glory.  Teach your child that a weakness is not a handicap.  God may use that weakness to bring healing to someone who is hurting or to bring someone to know Christ.

Then our children can be thankful always, especially for those weaknesses that have become strengths.