There seem to be many paradoxes in Scripture. Not in the sense that the Bible contradicts itself, but in the sense that the Bible proclaims truth that makes no sense to those who are not in Christ. Even for believers, we’re struck by the unfathomable workings of a God who makes beauty from ashes.

For instance, Scripture proclaims that, for the Christian, to lose is to gain. We read that to be humble is to be exalted. Perhaps most amazingly, the Bible proclaims that Christ’s victory over the grave means that to die is to live, and to live abundantly. But what I’m sure confuses many, in or out of the church, is this concept Paul writes about in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, where he makes the case for how our weakness is our strength. It’s interesting, especially given the fact that weakness is often considered a grave flaw, and something meant to be hidden.

Yet, here’s what Paul has to say: “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Maybe you’re wondering: How can this be? How are we expected to boast in our weakness? Who could ever be content with insults and persecution? Well, let me start off by saying that I think we are far weaker than we ever care to admit. And let me also say that it is in ignoring our weaknesses our lives become harder.

A message I heard only a matter of months ago seems to have established a permanent spot in my brain: “Christianity only makes sense when you’ve reached the end of yourself.” And that’s so true, isn’t it? Think about it — it is the proud who most believe they have no need for God. The plague of thinking, “Oh, I can do it by myself,” has hurt countless relationships. But Christianity declares this profound truth that what often makes Christianity most understandable is rooted in the fact that we need help. We need saving. Why? Because we’re weak and helpless.

But don’t get me wrong, this is, indeed, a joyous truth. I beg you not to take advice from men such as French philosopher Jean-Paul Sarte, who believed “every existing thing is born without reason, prolongs itself out of weakness, and dies by chance.” Worldviews such as this are bleak, and they completely miss the mark. Worldviews such as this, at least in a rather dramatic sense, declare that weakness is a problem and a mere inconvenience in an already pointless existence. And yet, the message Scripture has could not be further from that of Mr. Sarte.

Biblically speaking, weakness is a humble understanding of our disposition. We’re not God, and it would befit us to remember that. But more than that, we are not perfect. Our tendency to be late to work teaches us that. The very fact that we get hurt and hurt others only further proves our constant state of imperfection. There’s so much we don’t know, and we’re often finding ourselves doing the opposite of what Scripture commands. When James 1:9 tells us, “let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger,” we shrink back in shame as we reflect on the fact that, more often than not, we’re actually slow to hear, quick to speak, and quick to resort to anger.

And if you take a step even further back, it becomes clear just how quickly we fail in many other areas of life — especially when compared to how Scripture calls us to live. We often covet, lie, steal, and cheat. We may not be as heinous as a murderer, yet murder occurs frequently in our hearts. Jealousy is such a blinding emotion that consumes us easily, and our hearts are hardened toward those we feel have wronged us. Scripture says to “bear with one another in love,” forgive “seventy times seven,” and “value others above” ourselves, but how often do those commands actually take priority in our lives?

By no means is this meant to be a guilt trip. Rather, it’s meant to be a recognition of our shortcomings and the fact that, really, we just don’t have it all under control. And a bad day with little sleep or mean coworkers only makes it all worse. Suddenly, when the world is crashing down around us, and we can’t seem to get anything right, we realize: “Wow, I truly am weak.” And it’s not just the rude awaking of becoming aware of said weaknesses that hurts, but the harsh reality of the fact that the world is quick to use them against you. Far too commonly, weakness is abused in the machinations of manipulation and mockery. And if the world was all we had to turn to, we’d likely find ourselves wondering: what’s the point of it all?

But thanks be to God, because He does not define us by these weaknesses. Indeed, Psalm 103 declares, “The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. … The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. … He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.” Don’t you see? We may struggle, fail, or feel dismayed, but our God does not treat us as weak, failing sinners. He treats us as forgiven and free children of His promise!

Perhaps among several seemingly paradoxical yet joyous truths in Scripture is this understanding of our weakness being our strength, for it is in embracing our weaknesses that we can see Christ’s strength. And this strength is one that resides within us, for Galatians 2:20a states, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” Yet even as new creations, we fail Him daily. And yet, He never fails us. We neglect time with Him and time in His word, yet He never leaves us nor forsakes us. We sent His Son to die on a cross, yet He has loved us with an everlasting love that leads us into eternity with Him. We take blessings for granted, yet He never stops blessing us.

An anonymous puritan once wrote:

“Thou hast brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see Thee in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Thy glory. Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit, that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, that the valley is the place of vision. Lord, in the daytime, stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Thy stars shine; let me find Thy light in my darkness, Thy life in my death, Thy joy in my sorrow, Thy grace in my sin, Thy riches in my poverty, Thy glory in my valley.”

And if I may add, let me find Thy strength in my weakness. How astounding and unfathomable, this God we serve. May we never tire of singing His due praises, just as He never tires of holding us in His embrace of sovereign grace.