Every Thursday I feature a “throwback” post from my blog archive. The goal is to look back and discover new lessons or opportunities to grow. This week, we’ll look at “Unbreakable” You can view the original post here. For today, here’s a quick recap and a few more thoughts about trusting in God’s strength, especially in our weakness.

In the latest episode of my podcast, “This Awesome Life,” I had the privilege of sitting down with my friend, Brian Dollar. Brian is a pastor, author, and children’s ministry content creator. His latest book, “I Blew It,” explores his greatest missteps and the comebacks that followed. What makes Brian’s stories truly inspiring is his unwavering trust in the power of God and his commitment to walking in God’s guidance, even when he falters.

Brian’s stories reveal a profound truth – sometimes, our mistakes don’t stem from our weaknesses but from the misplacement or misuse of our strengths. During our conversation, we discussed how humor, a gift for many of us, can be used inappropriately as a defense mechanism or to avoid confronting challenging situations. However, what struck me most was Brian’s encouragement that, instead of relying on our other strengths or attempting to find or build new ones, “living weak” is more often the answer. Its when we recognize our weaknesses that we can allow God to manifest His strength within us.

This brings us back to the original post that inspired this reflection. In it, we draw an interesting comparison between the strength of glass and that of concrete. Surprisingly, we discover that under the right circumstances, glass can be stronger than concrete. At first glance, this might seem counterintuitive. After all, we’ve all heard countless stories of a simple misstep shattering a window, while very few baseballs have managed to breach a solid concrete wall. In a face-off between a window and a wall, there’s really no contest. However, it’s important to note that this isn’t really a fair comparison; it’s like asking if a bear could beat a shark. Well, that all depends on where the fight is happening.

The Apostle, Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 4:

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies. For we who live are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So death is at work in us, but life in you.

On our own, we are like the brittle glass of a cup or an old single paned window. At our best, we might fake it and look like concrete for a very short season. However, when we surrender everything to the Lord, our strengths, weaknesses, highlights, and bloopers, that’s when true strength emerges. That’s when we’re like the 38mm tempered glass of the Aukland Sky tower, a foundation solid enough to stand on. Don’t let your weaknesses lead you to despair or make you question God’s strength.

Paul later emphasizes in the same letter:

[The Lord] 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. 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” (2 Cor. 12:9-10).

God’s grace is sufficient, and His power is made perfect in our weakness. We can even boast in those weaknesses, because those are the moments when Christ’s power rests upon us. In hardships, insults, persecutions, and difficulties, we find true strength when we are weak.

Today, I encourage you to reflect on where you need to trust in God’s strength. Just as Brian learned to live “weak” and allow God’s strength to manifest within him, you too can discover a deeper, more profound strength by embracing your weaknesses. Remember that we are broken vessels, like a jar of clay, containing the treasure of God’s glory. It is through our imperfections and challenges that His power is revealed. Trust in His strength, and you’ll find the unbreakable foundation on which to build your life.

What weakness do you need to turn over to Him?