The Love-Hate Truths of Scripture

By Jenni, November 30, 2012

I don’t know about you, but I have a love-hate relationship with some truths of Scripture. There are some truths God has shown us in His Word that in my flesh and my pride I absolutely hate, yet in my heart and in the Spirit I absolutely love. There are the biggies, of course, like election. What I’m referring to, though, are the truths that punch an individual believer in the experiential gut right where they’re at in their personal walk. Take this, for instance:

“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.” {Proverbs 24:10}

Ye-ouch!

I’m a Spirit-filled child of God, and I faint in even mild adversity.

I can’t even maintain my basic daily duties filled with and expressing love, joy, peace, kindness, patience, gentleness, and self-control (Galations 5). The good that I want to do I do not do, and the evil I don’t want to do – that’s what I end up doing (Romans 7).

On my own I’m no match for the child with an attitude problem, the conflicting demands and duties of life, and the sinful tendencies of my own heart – not to mention the commands in Scripture I’m expected to obey and the “big” adversities life throws my way.

There have been days over the years that I have come across this verse and just cried over it. Almost like it’s an insult.

Yeah, so, I fainted. Again. I faint all the time. My strength is small. Really, really small. I’m downright wimpy. What can I do about it?? {insert pity party…}

Yet, much more than I hate the truth expressed in this verse, I love it.

I didn’t used to love it, but I have grown to love it very much. You see, what God has taught me over the years is that I need to embrace my weakness.

It’s very un-American but, biblically speaking, it’s good to be weak. God doesn’t command us to just “be strong” in and of ourselves. He commands us to be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” {Ephesians 6:10-11}

It’s in our weakness that His power and strength is complete. It’s in our humility and absolute dependence on Christ that He provides the strength we need to do what He has called us to do. It’s through abiding in Christ that we bear fruit.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” {2 Corinthians 12:9-10}

This is one of those truths in which we need to lean not on our own understanding, because from a human perspective it really doesn’t make sense. This is one of those truths in which we just need to know what God said in His Word, and trust Him, and obey Him.

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” {Proverbs 3:5-6}

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” {John 15:4-5}