Are you good – really, really gifted – at something?
Are there areas in which you’ve failed consistently?
In marriage, I think we can be blinded, paralysed or hobbled in 2 ways – either because we’ve become complacent in our strengths, or secure in our weaknesses.
If we’re complacent in our strengths, we:
- rely on our past successes to guide our future choices
- expect to be rewarded with opportunity
- see no purpose in guarding our strength
If we’re secure in our weaknesses, we:
- ignore or are oblivious to opportunties in that area
- see change in that area as irrelevant
- expect the future to equal the past
As a husband & wife – leading a meaningful life – how do we discard our reliance on our strengths & weaknesses?
Our trust needs to be in God – first.
Every gift, every strength we have is from God. But our job is not to trust in that gift, but to trust in God.
Each weakness, each failure is an opportunity for God to show us that He is in charge of our lives and can make all things work together for good, regardless of our weakness.
As a husband & wife making a difference – together – in your world, I urge you remind each other to place your faith in God – first, middle & last.
The great stumbling block in the way of some people being simple disciples is that they are gifted – so gifted that they won’t trust God.
So clear away all those things from the thought of discipleship; we all have absolutely equal privileges and there is no limit to what God can do in and through us.
~ Oswald Chambers
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Great encouragement, Lori. I’ll take this one into my day, weekend and beyond.
Thanks, Bonnie. I read a little sentence in a book by Gordon MacDonald where he said – “our greatest weakness is an unprotected strength.” That has stuck with me, and comes back to bite me at the oddest moments…
Great post, Lori! It’s good to read a new one from you. Are you taking part in the October challenge? I am – am I crazy? But because of it I met you! This is what compels me forward. I never know who God will have me meet this time around. Tell Robert Hi from the Walters! 🙂
Hey Debi – I DID decide to join in the challenge. I have to admit, I was a little daunted this time around. It’s funny – in July I didn’t know what I didn’t know about a challenge. Now I know. (crazy is a good word! lol )
I find it interesting how some couples really bring the best out of each other and i try to “do what they do”!
You’re right, Beth! I read something recently (a tweet, I think) that said you should surround yourself with strong couples, because it’ll ‘rub off’. Thanks for dropping in!