Opinion is a privilege, not a right

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One week teaches us much if we care to reflect and observe. God has had this sort of conversation with me this week: “Watch and learn about how your opinion polarises or changes — see how fickle it is — watch and learn about others’ opinions — watch and learn, thirdly, about the ruin opinion brings.”

Opinion brings ruin.

Because it is ill-conceived judgment for every user,
as nobody has the whole truth at their disposal.

Time often tells if our opinions have validity or not. Rarely do we have such a grasp on reason to have something of value to offer. That usually takes the time of analysis, which is never arrived at in the moment. Yet so rarely do we commit such effort to making a fair analysis of our or others’ opinions.

If our view could ever be considered a right, then we would have to agree that others have that same right. What goes with that is a respect to hear divergent views. Rarely do any of us enjoy others sharing their conflicting views without us wanting to interrupt and ‘correct’ them.

Opinion is a privilege, not a right, but unfortunately, we live in an age where everyone has broadcast capacity. Our age mobilises thought instantly, and there’s no time made for reflection, let alone listening to another’s opinion with an obliging heart.

I say opinion is a privilege because our opinions have power. They have incredible power to upset people. Rarely are opinions used to vouch for another’s good in a way that promotes peace. More often, opinions add fuel to an already stoked fire.

All opinions — no matter how right or wrong they are — can be expressed in such a way as to be wrong or right. If they’re not shared respectfully or they’re not treated with respect, conflict breaks out. Name-calling ensues, with emojis, and worse, trolling. Being right or wrong can be very well beside the point. It takes much wisdom to correctly communicate opinion, but even this statement is an opinion. And, most issues we can have an opinion on are far too complex to be reduced to a linear thought.

There is a better way.

A third way.

A way of thinking that is no longer either/or, but both/and. Such thinking synthesises left and right, good and bad, right and wrong (for good and bad, and right and wrong, depend on your standpoint — they’re not literal positions).

But the only way we can employ this third way thinking is through instant self-awareness of our opinionated judgment. We will always want to go one way or the other, in some one direction with our thought.

To employ third way thinking we must become aware of the instant formulation of a view, check that view (and by that I don’t mean self-validate it), and bring into the court of our awareness all other views, before repenting of our one solitary view.

We could learn much from this saying:

“Let me never fall into the vulgar mistake of dreaming that I am persecuted whenever I am contradicted.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882)

Maturity is about dealing maturely with immaturity

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Searching back for things learned and to learn, the past few years have revealed weaknesses in me I would hardly have realised.

As I look back, I feel either embarrassment or courage — maybe both — and, as I consent to God having His way in me, I’ve learned every failure was His will. So, therefore, I’m not embarrassed, even if I did think I was further along the road to maturity than I was.

In Christian faith, we crave maturity. We want to ‘be there’ already. To have arrived. To be sought after. To win praise. To know in both head and heart that we have it all together. These are the yearnings of both the Spirit and the ego within us. The Spirit in us wants us to serve and to bless people. The ego in us wants to avoid the painful ‘pitfalls’ of growth and is happiest when failure is saved for others.

Yet, maturity is nothing about having ‘arrived’ at all — for we never ‘arrive’.

Maturity is about dealing maturely with immaturity…

In ourselves, without shame, guilt (unless it evokes repentance) or embarrassment; with fortitude and patience. We want to deal with ourselves in the mode of acceptance that reflects how we see ourselves — as a person made preciously in the image of God; we’re on a journey with God through a life that deals with us. How we deal with ourselves when we fail and fall is symptomatic of how humble we are. We are responsible in how we call ourselves to account, but we’re also gentle with ourselves, committed to our recovery.

Maturity is about dealing maturely with immaturity in others. We deal with them in the manner of grace and patience, without judgment or condemnation. We want to deal with others, also, in the mode of acceptance that reflects how we see them — as persons made preciously in the image of God; persons on a journey with God through a life that deals with all persons. How we deal with others when they fail and fall is symptomatic of how mature we truly are. We gently hold people to account, but we’re also quick to encourage them as they recover, believing in them, offering them a redemptive pathway.

Amid failure, mature people deal gracefully with themselves and graciously with others.

Will I ever be forgiven?

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Have you ever had a time when you felt you had transgressed a significant relationship so much you felt you may not ever be forgiven? I’m sure you relate. There have been possibly a dozen or more times like that in my life.

Conflict is something we cannot get away from in this life. The odds are that we will make such a momentous mistake eventually. I’ve personally experienced situations in life where I was not, or have not yet been, forgiven.

My heart cried out to God and to the other, ‘Is there nothing I can do to redeem this situation?’

That’s a desperate heart-cry, isn’t it? It’s the call for mercy, for some way to be offered a second chance; anything to be granted access to that which we thought we would never lose.

All we really can do is lament in the fashion of Psalm 51. And yet this is precisely where we can be met by God, in experiencing a mercy that runs ahead of any mercy another human being can offer us. For what we have lost, we stand to gain so very much!

Especially as we desire to be cleansed and have our heart renewed, and even as we experience such a spiritual revival, having agonised for the days and weeks, and at times months and years, God intercedes by His Spirit to encourage us for our obedient repentance — no matter what we have done!

God honours our honouring of the truth; He notes our courage; He applauds our faith; He injects us with hope. And He loves us with His love.

If we remain unforgiven, if we sense their anger toward us isn’t over, or if we sense our chances for reconciliation are dashed, let us pray and then leave it with God. Then let us be disciplined enough to move forward, ready to recommit to letting go the moment we again take hold.

Let us pray that God’s mercy prevails in the person we have offended, and for patience in the meantime.

The 1240 from Woy Woy

TRIGGER WARNING: an account of violence follows.

SOME experiences in life are rare, and some others are so unique they promise never to be forgotten. I hope to God that the 1240 from Woy Woy is a once-off.

I have possibly never been so terrified in my life, with the young male mob aggression and violence that I saw and overheard — and I am a physically capable 230lb man. They were a number of twenty, with some loud female hangers-on. They sounded like fifty or more and were camped in the bottom portion of the double-decker carriage. There were about a dozen individuals with me on the top portion. I saw a range of confusion and terror responses that confirmed to me the imminent danger we felt like we were in. Occasionally one or two of the mob would walk through our carriage, and for the entire 75-minute trip I constantly felt a serious injury could take place. I prayed the prayer, “Father, keep everyone on this train safe… bring justice officers… keep every person who is made in Your image safe…” probably several hundred times, just over and over again.

Earlier, having bought my ticket from the station concourse, I made my way down to the platform to wait. The train was only eight-minutes away. I prepared to receive a planned call from a friend. I noticed the mob descend to the platform soon after I had, and within minutes the train pulled into the station. I was conscious at that point to move away from the mob, but as it happened we all ended up in the same carriage. Instantly, with the entire 71-kilometre trip ahead of us, I sensed an awkward dread rise-up in my spirit. Within minutes, I was positioning myself for safety, for escape, and for retaliation if necessary. I looked around the carriage and there were two elderly gentleman, a young couple, her mother, another man my age, and another young lady. Only two of these people other than me represented any protection and potential resistance to force.

This is what was happening. The mob entered with much alcohol in their possession and were clearly intoxicated. They were yelling at each other and constantly shouted obscenities. Bottle tops were removed and thrown around the carriage. The smell of cigarette smoke wafted (it is illegal to smoke on public transport in Australia). As they frequented the toilet, if one of them stayed in there for too long others would attempt to kick the door in, and twice there was the ongoing threats of violence for minutes at a time. At one point there was shrieking that came from a female, and I prayed, “Please, no God, please let that not be a sexual assault…” but the noise died down and it didn’t appear that my assumption was right — thankfully.

As I prayed that no harm would come to anyone in the train I watched outside and noticed people safe in cars on the Pacific Highway, and in a plane in the sky, completely oblivious to the drama unfolding for those of us in the train carriage. Another thing I noticed as I counted down the stations was vacant blocks of land when I craved to see buildings, tall ones, and lots of them. Then I would notice the sign of panicked thoughts and then redirect them into prayer.

We arrived at Epping and a silence came over the whole cabin. An armed officer walked past. He walked below. He then walked off the train with one empty whiskey can in his hand. To our dismay the train left the station, and the party recommenced. More shouting, more swearing, more yelling, more abuse. I recommenced my prayers, praying Strathfield would soon be in sight. At this point one of the mob began to yell, “What are you looking at, [expletive]…” and I wondered if he was starting to abuse those outside the mob. More of them walked through our portion of the carriage. I noticed a young woman enter the carriage and sit down. I was immediately taken with the image of one of my daughters. How precious and vulnerable we all are, but how much a target for violence, in these situations, are women? Apart from the real threat, just the aggression alone induced thought of trauma.

***

Text message explaining why I could not call

Having left the host venue for the event I’d attended — a keenly precious time with spiritual kin — I was driven to the train station by a colleague. The great irony of all is I had to leave promptly for this train, and I could have avoided the fracas by choosing a later train. I was in no hurry to catch my plane.

Another irony regarding this experience is it followed a peacemakers train-the-trainer event. I had been with fellow ministers talking and training about biblical conflict resolution.

What I have learned from this experience is the force of the male voice to evoke fear in everyone. The threat to do violence is almost as bad as violence itself, and even though they didn’t seem to physically harm any bystanders, they represented a source of trauma.

The young lady I witnessed was visibly panicked, and I could tell her partner was terribly concerned for the situation. One of the elderly gentleman was also very anxious. I asked God what I should do. I felt led to sit where I was and pray vocally under my breath.

The 1240 from Woy Woy was a terrible experience, and it made me aware of the tremendous harm alcohol and other drugs do when they fuel violence.

This experience highlighted to me, all the more, how important a peacemaker ministry is for our troubled society.

What I’m thinking as they drive off in the distance

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Having said our goodbyes, the car reversed out of the driveway, last waves were had, forward the wheels rolled down the road, before turning the corner and going out of view.

The loaned reality of sorrow struck once more. It won’t always be like this. I won’t always have the privilege of seeing this, of having had these visits, even though I know I take them for granted. Even though these events of interaction seem to be ongoing and never ending, one day — one day too soon — it will be all over.

The heart longs in gentle anguish when it ponders what it cannot control.

I can’t remember when I first had the vision, but I’ve had it so many times, and almost every time my parents leave our home.

As we stand there waving from the bottom of the driveway, I look at my son, just as I used to look at my daughters who are all now grown up, and wonder what he’s thinking. As my parents’ car disappears from view, as he runs back to me from the corner, and we make our slow walk back to the front door, God causes me to reflect on the eternity in that moment.

What happens routinely we’re meant to take for granted.

It would be so draining on our energy levels if we were to be so highly attuned to our emotions all the time. In this way, we are saved from emotional exhaustion, but we also pay for our having taken these things for granted when we experience loss. And that is okay. Provided we understand that loss brings grief and grief means pain, and this pain we bear, because it is love’s fault. And how can we criticise love?

My parents won’t be around forever. I know that. I mourn that fact, even now, still while they’re alive. What I’m granted is the precious gift of vision that may inevitably make their passing more palatable when that time comes. I am enamoured of the concept of life and death because, for example, what my parents mean to me, that I cannot keep them forever. I think of any family member in the same way.

It is good that we make the most of missing our loved ones before they’re gone.

This way we prepare ourselves for the inevitable; for that time ahead when they do actually go. When we miss them now we don’t tend to put off as much of what might never otherwise come to pass. We take action now, while we can.

We never know when life will change. Immeasurably. Irrevocably.

The problem of Racism and the Repentance to ponder

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I have always considered myself against racism. Then God showed me how racist I’m prone to be. I was shocked, then relieved. Can you identify?

A snapshot of the problem

My problem is I am so for our indigenous aboriginal people that my heart wishes to treat them as more special than they would want to be treated. I feel our Nation is in a kind of eternal debt scenario to our aboriginal people for the atrocities they’ve suffered historically at the hand of government policy. I felt the weight of The Apology. I felt it was a landmark beginning.

My problem is the kind of problem with the opposite effect than normal racism outcomes — I patronise the aborigine I encounter by trying to be too nice and too accommodating. If they’re discerning they’ll feel it. My attempting to try too hard can potentially hinder the trust I so seek to build.

The truth is our aboriginal people don’t want special treatment; they just want to be treated fairly, with dignity and respect, as human beings with the same needs and rights as the next person. Whenever we treat someone special because of their race or for any other reason, we miss the individual. We objectify them. In trying to elevate them, we insult them. It is racism cloaked in flattery.

Where Christian repentance fits in

Just about every view we have in life is attached to some value or other. Where we discern values are awry, we’re tempted to correct them. The truth is we’re under-correcting and over-correcting all the time. And that is a form of repentance — to turn back to the correct way where we’ve strayed.

This is what repentance looks like in the situation at hand: I am compelled to even out the transgressions of my heart in being more partial than God wills me to be. I am compelled to treat the aboriginal person as they wish to be treated, without grovelling, which I can be fooled to think is favour. I am compelled to understand that it’s also people of other racial backgrounds different to mine (Asian, African, European, etc) that I attempt to ingratiate. I am challenged to become present in every interaction I have with persons I feel tempted to favour. I am challenged to treat everyone the same; to love all with all the love I have.

***

Jesus is important because He stood up for equality — not that everyone get the same thing, but for everyone to be valued equally — loved not better nor worse than anyone else.

I think that we will still be tempted to overreact for the aboriginal people, for women, for children’s rights, for refugees — advocacy for all of which is necessary. This highlights even more why repentance should be pondered constantly.

Husbands, love your wives like Christ loved the church… but

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We live in a topsy turvy world, and but one example of this is it is misogynistic one moment, feminist the next. The former treat women with disdain, the latter hail the glory of women at times to the derision of men. Both situations are overreactions, and I see them weekly if not daily.

Being prone to being more feminist than misogynist, I favour the closing of the gap in inequality between women and men, but not to the extent that men are significantly disadvantaged in the process — that itself is the inequality borne of overreaction.

Let’s extend the discussion and focus on marriage. Here is what I think is theologically true:

Christ died

so that we may live,

Without burdens put on us

He’d never give,

We bear our cross

But let’s be aware,

Of the devil’s plan

Because perfection’s his snare.

The apostle Paul instructed husbands to love their wives just as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25). Remember though who Christ is — perfect and sinless in every way. Husbands are exhorted to strive for the standard, daily, but not to be beholden to it. It is too much for anyone to attain perfection. But certainly this is what repentance is for; when we fail to live up to biblical standards.

I know I have made the error in the past of suggesting that husbands in weak marriages do what is impossible even for husbands in strong marriages. No husband can attain to perfection, nor can any wife, so why would we hold either partner accountable for failing to reach an impossible standard.

No, it is for husbands to strive for the standard and simply repent when they inevitably fall short. That, there, is the glory of the relational gospel — that a husband might confess his wrong to his wife, so he may be forgiven, and that reconciliation might take place.

There is nothing of the gospel in a wife saying to her husband, ‘Hey, listen buddy, you are not exactly loving me as you should, as Christ loves His church.’ The husband would be well within his rights to say back to his wife, ‘So if I could love you as Christ loves His church, then Christ died for nothing.’

The way the gospel peace works is through individual revelation of sin, confession, and repentance. It is getting the log out of our own eye. The gospel of peace has nothing to do with pointing out others’ faults, but dealing with our own, in faith that the other person will do the same, but for which we really don’t have a say or a responsibility.

So, husbands and wives relax. Expect no level of perfection from one another. Expect to mutually submit in the ways of confession and repentance, that’s all, in holding only yourself to account. Then your partner is free to love you without fear of your judgment.

Christ died

so that we may live,

Without burdens put on us

He’d never give,

We bear our cross

But let’s be aware,

Of the devil’s plan

Because perfection’s his snare.

Christ’s call for both men and women in marriage is to bear their respective cross. It would only help marriage if we threw out all the complicated theologies about gender roles that only add the pressure of expectation. We only sustain these precious methodologies because human beings like designing systems. Don’t forget God has made it possible that we can achieve the same result in different ways.

Let’s not be held to a teaching that seems particularly difficult to achieve when mutual submission meets the gospel aim.

I think marriages are best blessed when husbands arrive at the balance between striving for and aspiring to love their wives as Christ loved the church. They strive for that standard, realising it is aspirational, knowing it is unattainable, accepting they are fallen, yet they are always trying, and always committed to reconciling their relational realities.

The empty nester’s grief

When my eldest daughter turned 18 I carried around one of her baby photos for two years, every day gazing at it — where had those years gone? You would think I would have adjusted to the grief of a child leaving home and living their own life when daughter two reached adulthood… and when daughter three graduated from adolescence.

I didn’t. In fact, it got worse. With three children all leading their own lives it can seem as if that part of my life never existed. The memories are all that remains. Even as I watch my nearly-five-year-old grow, I see that one day he’ll be on his way too.

Here is a vulnerability that I haven’t always allowed myself to be in touch with. The empty nester’s grief is real. It’s not the kids’ fault. It is what it is. They need to lead their own life, and I want (and need) them to lead their own life.

But it can be tough. Nothing could’ve prepared me for this. If anything, I couldn’t wait for the day when they were all grown up. Just like the paradox of being frustrated and rushing small children to bed only to regret my lack of patience with them when they had fallen asleep.

It’s such a bizarre feeling being so thankful for an adult child’s independence yet feeling you’re no longer required. There are still many times when I am needed, but it’s not like it used to be, and the weird thing is I used to resent it at times being so needed, thankfully, mainly in the early years.

I know that God is teaching me something in all this.

It’s that the important times are the times I felt tempted to rush and overlook — that I actually didn’t always appreciate the moments as I should have. It’s also that I did make the most of many opportunities, but like all things, the end comes, and ultimately things change. I have to accept it.

But it’s good I’m aware of my sadness, so it needn’t morph into anger, as at times my sadness does. 

Most of all, we need to make the most of our time with children.

5 Opportunities in Emotional Coaching

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Dr John Gottman’s book What Am I Feeling is a little masterpiece. It helps parents map their parenting style to move from dismissive, disapproving, and laissez-faire styles to the emotional coaching style.

But as we read the following opportunities regarding emotional coaching, there are broader opportunities extending to all our relationships:

1.      Be aware of presenting emotions. In your child, in the child (if they’re not your own), in you, and in other adults. We are all emotional beings. There is a child in each one of us. Just because we grow up doesn’t mean we suddenly gain a grasp over all our emotions. Emotional responses are nothing to be ashamed of; but they pique the awareness. Awareness is central to learning. Accepting our emotions is important. Learning to moderate our emotions is about listening to ourselves, becoming aware of our triggers, and planning wise responses for when we’re most vulnerable. Imagine how much more help a child needs in becoming aware of emotional triggers; all the more reason for the patience of grace.

2.      Emotions are an opportunity to connect. Connection makes the living world go around. What we most need when we’re vulnerable enough to become emotional is connection — for people to move toward us, or for us to have the courage and humility to know what we need, which is to move toward others. We least want to do that, however. The challenge is to overcome pride. Our moments of vulnerability can be resolved and healed when we embrace our vulnerability. This can take enormous emotional intelligence. Imagine how much more a challenge this can be for a child.

3.      Listen with empathy. It takes energy to be interested. If others are emotional, how much better is it for them if we’re interested enough to help. Empathy is shown in listening, in sparing judgment, in resisting quips of advice, in simply showing understanding. ‘That must be horrible… I remember feeling like that once… mmm… it is understandable that you’re feeling this way… but I understand you not wanting to feel this way…’ These may be the only things you say in an hour’s session listening to someone bare their soul. We may find that children can help themselves if they are simply listened to.

4.      Help in naming emotions. When we label the emotion, we distance ourselves from the feeling being about us. The truth is we all feel all emotions — they are not us. Nobody is ‘angry’ or ‘sad’ as if that is all they are. But we sometimes feel angry and sad. Children need permission to feel negative emotions like the rest of us do. We all need to know that the emotion doesn’t characterise us.

5.      Set limits and find good solutions. Once people are heard they usually don’t have a problem adhering to limits. They also don’t mind looking at ways to solve their problems. Even children in the main are happy to look beyond the problem once they have been truly heard.

Everyone needs permission to feel, and no one can truly be alive without feeling. Indeed, our worst problems surface when we refuse to feel.

**Dr Gottman’s book can be ordered here.

How ordinary is romance?

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THIS article is actually about another article; an offering so bright about such an oft dull topic: marriage. “Dull?” I hear you say… yes, Dull!

But isn’t dull good? Seriously.

Yet I don’t at all mean dull in the sense of boring. I mean dull in the sense of utterly imperfect as in seeing yet not seeing . . . as in what the apostle Paul mentioned in 1 Corinthians 13:12a, “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face.”

Marriage, now, is dull, and with our partner we see dimly at best, as do they, but one day soon, when marriage is superfluous, because we shall no longer need it, we will see the Lord face to face. Our marriage with God will be delight.

Now, I am sure there are those who will read who will say, “What planet is the guy on? My marriage is magnificent!” Of course, it is. I am so thankful for mine, too. My marriage is magnificent. But not in the ways I thought it would be magnificent when I first said, “I do.” Your marriage may be sheer bliss, every moment. You do have an extraordinary marriage! But isn’t every marriage extraordinary? Every single partnering with a commitment ‘til death do us part’ is a miracle of righteous romance.

Magnificent, yet dull. We are marred by our human condition, and as a man I must confess that marring is telling and fatal. It is as terrible as it is certain. My wife loves me, there is no question in that, but the fact is, she deserves more; much more than I can give. Some men say they ‘married up’. Well, we all miss the mark by a significant amount.

My thesis is that romance is ordinary. It lasts a few fleeting moments and then, as a vapour, it wafts away . . . but the real romance is dullness endured. That’s the real love story. Will you sit there while I cut my toe nails? Can you endure my bathroom odour? Are the errands of life something we can do together? Shall I tell you what disgusts me? Do please help me clean up the children’s messes. And . . . what will you do when I say, “Leave me alone?” Will you stay?

Dull, but good. Dull, magnificently dull.

How magnificent that, though we see dimly, we still have the decency to see it through to the bitter end. Through thick and thin, that is love. That there’s nothing you can do to dissuade me!

Magnificence in marriage is saying, “I am, all of me, all yours!”

Love is both partners smiling amid the truth: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Friendliness for Fighting and Freedom

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Friendliness is a wisdom that wins every fight. It is impossible to fight someone who insists on being friendly. It refuses temptation to hurt or be hurt, continuing to hope for the best in the other person and the relationship.

Friendliness insists on the relational ideal: I am no threat to you and you can be no threat to me.

It thrives on the belief that all things are possible through believing in the other person’s capacity to respond to and in love.

Friendliness must surely be a form of godliness. There is nothing in it that can be restrained, for it is free to love as surely as if there was no such thing as hurt.

Conflict is something that potentially breaches both parties’ trust, but if a gentle and confident form of friendliness is present in one, the other soon has the freedom to trust again.

Perhaps simply being friendly is a beautiful mix of gentleness, kindness, meekness, patience, and compassion that equals love. If I cannot be threatened and I can prove I am no threat to you, we are both in a safe and good place, together.

Of course, friendliness has to be underpinned by a good dose of humility, because pride is too easily threatened. It must have faith to walk forward believing the best in another person who is potentially assaulting us. It should also be impervious to fear; worry for reputation and regard is not the domain of a person given to friendliness.

Friendliness transcends the option to fight, opting instead for decisions that promote freedom.

Those with the gift of friendliness must be wary, however, for everyone has the potential to be burned.

** Big disclaimer here as far as abuse is concerned. There are people for whom friendliness won’t work.

The courage to be weak

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This was a recent epiphanic prayer: God, give me both the willingness and ability — the humility — to be weak, especially when I try to be strong. Amen.

Then I realised what it would take: courage. Nobody wants to be weak. We all want to show how strong we are. But being willingly weak, admitting we are weak when we are, takes courage, which is real strength. Here is an irony:

See how there is strength in vulnerability and weakness in a façade that covers the truth?

The good news about weakness is this: God gives us all so many opportunities to be willingly weak. Yet, most of the time we are most willing to press on through our masquerade. Of course, we live in a society that deplores weakness. Society expects of us a masquerade.

If we can be leaders in living our truth with dignity, especially in weakness, we empower others by our example. We will then be seen as safe persons, and the world can always do with more safe people who resist the power ploys any of us are free to engage in. There is too much power and too many power grabs in the world.

This is license for us to be real, to engage with our weakness, and yet not to leave it there. When we are raw and real, we invite the empowering Presence of God to come in and help us.

God blesses us in our honesty. He sees our courage and says, ‘I remove your fear — here, have my strength for your faith!’ Or, equally, He might be heard saying, ‘I see you in your fear; here is My comfort!’ Then, feel it.

Because it is harder to live as God wants us to, the Lord blesses that risk we take to live an authentic life. Engage in this and see. Of course, we will meet resistance, but resistance only comes from those who are threatened by God’s strength in our weakness.

We’re more a blessing to others in our weakness than when we’re strong because of our courage to be honest.

The weakness we discuss here is not pathetic. Weakness that wrestles with reality in faith that God’s strength might be known is the realest strength. Indeed, weakness that wrestles is strength.

Do you see your strength rising out of your weakness?