Feeling Weak? We can DELIGHT in weakness through God's grace!

[Kyrie Eleison]

These are depressing times, and a lot of us are feeling down or getting really upset. We might feel weak, like we have sorrows we can't seem to shake, which poke at us, day & night.

Are you waking up at night? Do you feel like your feelings are overwhelming to you in the face of what's happening, and the images on the news? Is Hurricane Katrina beating you down, emotionally? God's grace is sufficient. Our feelings are one thing, but our position is secure.

This is one of many verses that is so comforting, even in recent days, because I know it's a mistake to stay plugged into my feelings in the flesh. God offers us so much more by being our strength when we are weak. If we're suddenly feeling really intimidated by these EndTimes and letting our feelings swamp over us, let's remember that we are indeed very weak, always have been, and it's okay. God is strong, not our flesh, but our Spirit in Christ is strong. :clap


www.Biblegateway.com

2 cor. 12:7-10

7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

[A.Rachel]

These are depressing times, and a lot of us are feeling down or getting really upset. We might feel weak, like we have sorrows we can't seem to shake, which poke at us, day & night.

Are you waking up at night? Do you feel like your feelings are overwhelming to you in the face of what's happening, and the images on the news? Is Hurricane Katrina beating you down, emotionally? God's grace is sufficient. Our feelings are one thing, but our position is secure.

This is one of many verses that is so comforting, even in recent days, because I know it's a mistake to stay plugged into my feelings in the flesh. God offers us so much more by being our strength when we are weak. If we're suddenly feeling really intimidated by these EndTimes and letting our feelings swamp over us, let's remember that we are indeed very weak, always have been, and it's okay. God is strong, not our flesh, but our Spirit in Christ is strong. :clap


www.Biblegateway.com


7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.


I think this may be a difficult concept for some people, I know it is for me.

How can I be strong when I am weak? When I fall down in weakness... when I experience weakness and failing.... I don't also feel strength. I still feel weak. Where and how does this "Godly Strength" come? It makes me feel bad because then I wonder why in MY weakness I cannot feel this stength. Maybe I am further from God than I thought? Is there something wrong with me personally, that in my weakness I still feel weak?

How does weakness make the Christian strong? :confused


I pray and pray and pray for God's strength to overcome, but I still feel incredibly weak.


It would really mean a lot to me if someone could explain to me what I am doing wrong.


Someone please explain this.




:confused

[Kyrie Eleison]

I think this may be a difficult concept for some people, I know it is for me.

How can I be strong when I am weak? When I fall down in weakness... when I experience weakness and failing.... I don't also feel strength. I still feel weak. Where and how does this "Godly Strength" come? It makes me feel bad because then I wonder why in MY weakness I cannot feel this stength. Maybe I am further from God than I thought? Is there something wrong with me personally, that in my weakness I still feel weak?

How does weakness make the Christian strong? :confused


I pray and pray and pray for God's strength to overcome, but I still feel incredibly weak.


It would really mean a lot to me if someone could explain to me what I am doing wrong.


Someone please explain this.




:confused


Sorry, double post.

[Kyrie Eleison]

I think this may be a difficult concept for some people, I know it is for me.

How can I be strong when I am weak? When I fall down in weakness... when I experience weakness and failing.... I don't also feel strength. I still feel weak. Where and how does this "Godly Strength" come? It makes me feel bad because then I wonder why in MY weakness I cannot feel this stength. Maybe I am further from God than I thought? Is there something wrong with me personally, that in my weakness I still feel weak?

How does weakness make the Christian strong? :confused


I pray and pray and pray for God's strength to overcome, but I still feel incredibly weak.


It would really mean a lot to me if someone could explain to me what I am doing wrong.


Someone please explain this.




:confused


I don't think you are further from God. That is the enemy talking in your ear. Don't believe it. What God says is true, not what the enemy whispers in our scared minds when we feel weak.

I think you are focused on your feelings to such an extent that they overwhelm you.. The exact same thing happens to me or anyone when we focus on feelings. Feelings can betray us. The point Paul was making is that we need God and He is in control and when we are weak, if we give ourselves over to Him, He gives us what we need. You know that verse about not worrying about what we mgiht say if brought before the authorities? It's that sort of strength, not a feeling.

Even when are feelings are SCREAMING doom & gloom and sheer panic at us, we can still be used of God in mighty ways. We won't feel strong, we will feel what we feel. It's okay.....God can still move in us in mighty ways. I'm sure someone else can explain this much better than I can, I know it's true, but I'm not good at explaining it. I apologzie and ask for help in explaining this, please! The focus should not be to let our feelings knock us down in times of trouble, but to seek the Lord's strength, which through our weakness can carry us.

Sort of like Peter waking on the water while he kept his eyes on Jesus, but sinking in his fear when he looked down at the water in fear. There is nothing wrong with our feelings in and of themselves, but they aren't the whole story, we fight a battle in the Spiritual realm, against things which are unseen. God illustrates in his Word how many weak people got used in mighty ways. Were they scared and feeling like they weren't strong or able to do what God asked? You bet! They were often a mess (said lovingly) even Moses, David and Abraham. They were just like us, weak in the flesh. We need to remember that we are not called to fear, although we will feel is in the flesh, and that's okay. We just need to remember that there is a greater reality, and put on the full armor of God.

[heavenlierealm]

awesomeness!!
big amen to that

JESUS CHRIST FRIGGIN ROCKS!!:cheer

[A.Rachel]

I don't think you are further from God. That is the enemy talking in your ear. Don't believe it. What God says is true, not what the enemy whispers in our scared minds when we feel weak.

I think you are focused on your feelings to such an extent that they overwhelm you.. The exact same thing happens to me or anyone when we focus on feelings. Feelings can betray us. The point Paul was making is that we need God and He is in control and when we are weak, if we give ourselves over to Him, He gives us what we need. You know that verse about not worrying about what we mgiht say if brought before the authorities? It's that sort of strength, not a feeling.

Even when are feelings are SCREAMING doom & gloom and sheer panic at us, we can still be used of God in mighty ways. We won't feel strong, we will feel what we feel. It's okay.....God can still move in us in mighty ways. I'm sure someone else can explain this much better than I can, I know it's true, but I'm not good at explaining it. I apologzie and ask for help in explaining this, please! The focus should not be to let our feelings knock us down in times of trouble, but to seek the Lord's strength, which through our weakness can carry us.

Sort of like Peter waking on the water while he kept his eyes on Jesus, but sinking in his fear when he looked down at the water in fear. There is nothing wrong with our feelings in and of themselves, but they aren't the whole story, we fight a battle in the Spiritual realm, against things which are unseen. God illustrates in his Word how many weak people got used in mighty ways. Were they scared and feeling like they weren't strong or able to do what God asked? You bet! They were often a mess (said lovingly) even Moses, David and Abraham. They were just like us, weak in the flesh. We need to remember that we are not called to fear, although we will feel is in the flesh, and that's okay. We just need to remember that there is a greater reality, and put on the full armor of God.


Thank you Kyrie,
I think I do understand now. You were very clear.

I guess I thought that I would somehow feel the strength. Like somehow God would infuse His strength into me when I felt weak, and I would then feel strong.

But you are saying that He will make me strong even when I still feel weak inside. That He will be with me through it.


Yes, I suppose Moses and David and Abraham had their weak moments too. And God still used them and was with them.


So the lesson is that we should focus less on our feelings of weakness and failure, and focus instead on God's word and His promises in the Bible where He says that He will always be with us and never forsake us, and where He says He works ALL things for good for those who love Him. And then trust in Him and His word MORE than we trust in our feelings.


Feelings can be very overwhelming. They can feel like a great ocean swallowing you up whole. And you wonder, "Where is this strength God promised? Where is He? Because I don't see Him... all I see around me is a vast ocean of helplessness." ...... Maybe I need to stop fighting the ocean and let the fight go. Maybe if I let the fight go, then like Jonah, God will send a great fish to lift me back to shore.

You know what I am saying?

Maybe if I stop fighting with my own strength so hard (and failing), maybe He will find a way to step in and lift me back up. Maybe He is waiting for me to let go so He can take over.

But I guess deep down, my secret fear is, that if I do let go, He won't step in and I will fall all the way down. I guess like Peter, I need to get out of the boat and trust God... even if my fear tells me that I will sink.

And I must trust that He WILL hold me up.



Is that what you are saying?







.

[Kyrie Eleison]

Thank you Kyrie,
I think I do understand now. You were very clear. Reason enough for me to be overjoyed. I thought I was making no sense. :twitch

I guess I thought that I would somehow feel the strength. Like somehow God would infuse His strength into me when I felt weak, and I would then feel strong.
I thought so, too, but no - I feel what I feel in the flesh, which is where my feelings are stuck.

But you are saying that He will make me strong even when I still feel weak inside. That He will be with me through it.

Yes, :nod .

Yes, I suppose Moses and David and Abraham had their weak moments too. And God still used them and was with them.

And they even said as much, they felt weak and unequal to the task.


So the lesson is that we should focus less on our feelings of weakness and failure, and focus instead on God's word and His promises in the Bible where He says that He will always be with us and never forsake us, and where He says He works ALL things for good for those who love Him. And then trust in Him and His word MORE than we trust in our feelings.

:sad Why do you think the devil so often attacks our emotions?

Feelings can be very overwhelming. They can feel like a great ocean swallowing you up whole. And you wonder, "Where is this strength God promised? Where is He? Because I don't see Him... all I see around me is a vast ocean of helplessness." ...... Maybe I need to stop fighting the ocean and let the fight go. Maybe if I let the fight go, then like Jonah, God will send a great fish to lift me back to shore.

[]You know what I am saying?

:): I know all too well what you mean. We panic. We fret. We wander in circles. God is faithful, and unlike us, He knows the way!!!!

Maybe if I stop fighting with my own strength so hard (and failing), maybe He will find a way to step in and lift me back up. Maybe He is waiting for me to let go so He can take over.

Very true words! Sometimes it's hard for me to get out of my own way, but God is always there to do it better. I tend to be a control freak - not good, God is in control. I'm not.

But I guess deep down, my secret fear is, that if I do let go, He won't step in and I will fall all the way down. I guess like Peter, I need to get out of the boat and trust God... even if my fear tells me that I will sink.

We all have that, don't feel badly about it. It's called being human. :hug

And I must trust that He WILL hold me up.

:amen Always!




Is that what you are saying?

Yes, don't trust your fears, trust the Lord's promises. They never fail. :thumb :nod





.

[A.Rachel]

Yes, don't trust your fears, trust the Lord's promises. They never fail.



Thanks Kyrie! :hug


You really helped me tonight! For that I am truly grateful! :nod :thumb


:):