We were in his country, so we were his guests. He took us, along with his children, wife and grandchildren, to a wonderful traditional restaurant where the meal was fantastic. The grandchildren were lively, and we played with them across the table. He sat right next to me. I had been praying for decades that he might come to Christ. His English was poor, but that was not the problem. I spoke very few words to him that night and I never shared the good news of Christ. This was my introverted self at its worst.

Have you ever failed Jesus because of a personal weakness you have not worked to overcome? My own witness for Christ is often inhibited by a personal problem of introversion. I’m just not very social. I can’t think of good things to say or stories to develop a conversation. That keeps me from directing many of my conversations toward Jesus.

That’s one of my problems; what are yours?

The question comes, “Do we let our character flaws and personal weaknesses prevent us from sharing the gospel?”

Does God want me to skip over my areas of weakness and witness for Him only in my areas of strength? Or does He want me to witness through my flaws and weaknesses, counting on His Spirit to bring power where I have none?

God told Paul that His power was made perfect in Paul’s weakness. Might He say the same to me? If I hear His Spirit and speak through my insecurities, might He show Himself in power regardless of my flaws? Through such obedience, might I find that His Spirit is reforming these flaws within me into pathways of strength where Jesus can walk?

I need to trust Him to do that, and I need to change. I need to trust God will manage for His glory every weakness that I surrender to His service. And I need to work hard to change any weakness that might diminish His glory. Such effort toward change takes intentionality and courage and prayer. It takes trying again when I fail, and trying again when I fail again until I am where He wishes me to be. Meanwhile, His power will be made perfect through it all.

Dear Father,
Let me not fail you with my weaknesses. Use them for your glory with your power.
Amen