Why it’s normal to be weak and strong

I am a really determined optimistic person and I am also a naturally impatient person who can easily overdo it. Do you see the link between my strengths and weaknesses? We can easily celebrate someone’s strengths as being  good and treat weaknesses as something that should be grown out of.

Our strengths and weaknesses are mostly a part of our personality type. Asking someone to be completely free of a weakness can be like asking them to chop an arm of.

I am good at thinking quickly and this is a real strength when I’m leading or trying to work through a crisis. I also sometimes say the wrong thing and regret it and this is a real weakness. This strength and weakness flow from the same source, they are both a part of who I am.

I’m not saying it’s okay for me to say the wrong thing or to overdo it. We all need to learn to manage our behaviours and my wife tells me that I am not nearly as impatient as I once was. Experience has taught me that acting rashly usually leads to things going wrong and so I am learning to curb my natural instinct to act too quickly.

We need to accept that having weaknesses is normal and it is not something to be ashamed of. We are all human and no one is perfect. I love the way that when Jesus chose his disciples that he picked people who were flawed and he worked with them as they were.

God says, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12.9). Paul goes on to say, ‘So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me’. Are we comfortable being honest about our weaknesses? Are we willing to let God work in and through us? As Jesus works in us, he moulds and shapes us and we become more like him. The more we struggle and let go, the more we rely on him and gain his strength.

When we become comfortable being honest about our weaknesses then we can learn to surround ourselves with people who make up for our flaws. I am very creative and I think out of the box, but I am completely useless at organizing details. I need to surround myself with organized people so that together we can achieve great things.

Which of your strengths and weaknesses are linked?

Are you a passionate person? If so, you will often be a good motivator but you may also overreact emotionally when things go wrong. Being passionate is a real strength but it is also a pitfall.

Are you analytical? You may be really good at solving puzzles and finding solutions but do you sometimes treat people like robots rather than being caring? If you’ve ever watched ‘House’ starring Hugh Laurie then you will know exactly what I mean.

Are you a people person? You are great to be around and really help others but often you go and spend time with people when there are important things that you are neglecting.

Can we learn to celebrate being who God made us to be, accepting the strengths and weaknesses that flow out of who we are.

We can work on and celebrate our strengths while we learn to curb, overcome or get others to help us with our weaknesses.

In everything I hope we will choose to rely on Christ, allowing his power to work through and in us.