Lessons from a 10-year-old
A 10-year-old boy named Mark decided to study judo despite losing his left arm in an automobile accident.
Mark began lessons with an aged Japanese judo master and was doing well. But after three months, he passed despite only being taught one move. He questioned the master. "This is the only move you'll ever need to know," the master replied.
Perplexed but trusting, Mark kept training and entered his first tournament several months later. Surprising himself, Mark won the first two matches. The third match was more difficult, but soon, his opponent became impatient and charged. Mark deftly used his one-lone move to win the match.
He was now in the finals, but this time, his opponent was much larger, stronger, and more experienced. Mark was nervous, and it was showing in the match. Concerned for the boy's welfare, the referee called a time-out. He was about to stop this seemingly imbalanced match when the master intervened and said, "Let him continue."
The match resumed, and Mark's opponent made a critical mistake: he dropped his guard. Instantly, Mark used his move to pin his opponent, winning the match and the tournament.
On the way home, Mark reviewed all his matches and moves with his master, finally summoning the courage to ask the question at the forefront of his mind.
"How did I win the tournament with only one move?"
"You won for two reasons," the judo master answered. "First, you've almost mastered one of the most difficult throws in all judo. And second, the only known defense for that move is for your opponent to grab your left arm."
Mark's greatest weakness became his greatest strength, because he had no left arm, he could not be defeated.
Welcome to this week's pep talk.
2 Corinthians 12:10 says: "That 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."
Read that last sentence again. When I am weak, I am strong. It doesn't say, "When I am strong, then I am strong."No, it's in your weakness that you can find strength.
When I first read this scripture, it seemed illogical. But the more I have thought about it, here’s what I believe Paul is trying to say: It is your weaknesses that make you the most relatable. When you share your mistakes, flaws, or weaknesses, we can all sigh and say, "Oh gosh, I am glad I am not the only one." I used to be too shy to tell people I am partially deaf, but since I've started sharing it, I've seen others have the courage to share a difficult part of their life too.
But it is also in your weakness that God can show up and show off. God is like the judo master who, when we give Him our weakness, He can use it for His glory. He'll flip your weakness on its head. God's power perfects our weaknesses, allowing us to do more than we could ever do.
When we are weak, insulted, going through hardships, being persecuted, or dealing with difficulties, it is an opportunity for God to give us strength. While it might seem frustrating or awful, we should trust God to show up and strengthen us.
Throughout the Bible, we see God use an individual's weakness cleverly. For example, in Exodus 6:30, the Lord tells Moses to go to Egypt and speak to Pharaoh. Moses replies, "Since I speak with faltering lips, why would Pharaoh listen to me?". Moses' weakness is his ability to speak well in front of crowds, which is exactly what God calls him to do.
God is asking Moses to do something he isn't good at on his own. Moses and his brother Aaron could speak to Pharaoh through God's power alone. This isn't something Moses could even have done by his own power.
God's strength in our weaknesses is much greater than any strength we can muster on our own. My friend, try not to hide or avoid your weakness. Rather, embrace them and allow God to strengthen you in ways you could never have imagined.
