When You’re Weak and Out of Control

I used to hate feeling weak and out of control, but since my Stage IV cancer battle, I realized God shows up best when I’m weak as then He becomes strong in me. Consider four responses to being weak and out of control – sad, mad, bad, and glad. I exhibited all four responses during my cancer battle. Where are you at today?

1) Sad about Weakness

Symptoms – Discouraged; depressed; numb; self-blame.

Example – Psalm 43:5a – Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?

Remedy – Psalm 43:5b – Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God. Tell yourself to totally trust in Him and praise Him always!

2) Mad about Weakness

Symptoms – Venting; lashing out; questioning God’s wisdom.

Example – Job 3:1 & 17 – After this, Job opened his mouth and cursed the day of his birth. … There (in the grave) the wicked cease from turmoil,  and there the weary are at rest. (Even the wicked have it better than me).

More here on how to navigate weakness and being out of control in our free gift basket to cancer patients.

Remedy – Job 40:1-5 – The Lord said, “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!” Then Job answered the Lord: “I am unworthy—how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer, twice, but I will say no more.” So avoid venting and surrender to His ways & His goodness!

3) Bad about Weakness

Symptoms – Rebuking God; consider/pursue alternatives to Him; rebel.

Example – Luke 7:20-23a – John the Baptist has sent us to You, to ask, ‘Are You the Expected One, or do we look for someone else?’” At that very time He cured many people of diseases and afflictions and evil spirits; and He gave sight to many who were blind. And He answered and said to them, “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard.

Remedy – Luke 7:23b –“… Blessed is he who does not take offense at Me.” In other words, don’t fight His decisions and what He allows to happen in our lives!

4) Glad about Weakness

Symptoms – Frustration with God turns into happily embracing God’s ways which are way “higher” or better in quality than our ways.

Example – 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 – God said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Remedy – Most gladly boast in and be “well content” with my weaknesses; because when you’re weak and out of control, then you are strong. He then comes through for us and in us!

Find out here how God made a way to overcome our ultimate weakness so we could be with Him forever!