Trisha Wilkerson » God Worship Sanctification God Worship Sanctification

Sadly, weakness and meekness are largely misunderstood ideas and are often associated with “needy,” “fearful,” and “cowardly.” Even for me, I have filed these words under the “what I don’t want to be like” category. 

Aspiring to either seems strange, yet the Bible speaks to both meekness and weakness as admirable qualities. For the Christian to accept weakness reveals a heart that has acknowledged both human frailty and the need to be saved from sin by ultimately relying on Christ’s power.

Embracing Weakness

When we inevitably meet the end of our energy, time, emotional, and/or physical strength, we are experiencing weakness—realizing we are dust—we see we are incapable of anything without the enabling hand of our Creator.

Instead of despising our weakness, we are invited to embrace it, as an act of worshipful dependence on Jesus.

Weakness in Scripture has sub-categories like: insults, hardships, troubles. We have all experienced trouble. When trouble finds us, we usually don’t feel strong, right? That weakness we experience is a heart acknowledgement that we are not powerful or strong, we need a mighty savior to carry us through. Weakness, biblically is a honest assessment of ourselves.

“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 about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Instead of despising our weakness, we are invited to embrace it, as an act of worshipful dependence on Jesus. Knowing our weakness can be worshipful, as we pursue Christ in it, leaning in to Him for strength. God has a holy purpose for our weakness. John Piper says, “God's purpose in our weaknesses is to glorify the grace and power of his Son.”

“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.” 2 Corinthians 12:10

God’s power is made perfect in our weakness, our pride melts, we become meek. Our meek demeanor displays Christ’s power instead of our own perceived strength. David, Moses, Abraham, Paul, and even the Lord Jesus were described as meek. We are in amazing, holy company when we become meek.

Two important truths should repeat in our minds throughout our days:

1. God is all-powerful. I am not. 

2. I cannot do anything without the enabling grace of God. 

Meekness Is Displaying Christ’s Strength

Meekness, like weakness, often comes with negative associations that make us uncomfortable. Yet, if King Jesus was often described as meek, then we should consider a more inspiring and holy view of meekness. 

As we embrace our weakness, our posture is both humble and meek. Meekness is an outward expression of our heart’s deep need for God. If weakness says, “I have no lasting strength or power,” then meekness is result of our heart’s weakness as worship.

Meekness then is a godly attribute, a humble heart. Many places in Scripture, “meekness” and “gentleness” are interchangeable or complementary adjectives used to describe a Christian. 

 “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” Colossians 3:12 (See also, 2 Corinthians 10:1; 1 Peter 3:4, 15)

Weak, Meek, and Beautiful

For Christian women, there’s one further special application: there is nothing more beautiful than a meek heart trembling with fear of the Lord, a heart that knows King Jesus is lovingly paying attention to even the most mundane parts of our lives and hearts. As we bow down before a great God, submit our pride and short-lived strength to accept our weakness, we are becoming meek. 

“Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” Proverbs 31:30

A meek woman is a woman who fears the Lord. Our physical beauty fades but the glory of Christ in us only gets brighter. Let’s aspire to meekness.

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