As Christians in the United States, we live in a tremendously blessed place and time in history. We have the freedom to choose the church we will attend, use a Bible translated into our language either in paper or digital formats, and freely tell others about our faith in hopes that they will join us in our love of God and His Son. We can go home from church and listen to good, God-honoring sermons from across the country (and world) and share these words with others by a few simple mouse-clicks. It isn’t hard to be a Christian in America. You don’t have to be that strong. Perhaps that leads us to a false sense of security. A false sense of strength?

I came to a situation recently that undercut this façade of strength. There are two very close loved ones in my life whose heath is not well, and one is likely dying. Neither knows the Lord despite me having talked with them and trying to live a life that demonstrates Christ is my chief joy and treasure. When you come to this situation, all your supposed strength vaporizes. You might read a book about witnessing with hopes of engaging them again so that “maybe this time they will listen.” However, you know that the salvation of these individuals, much like your own children, is not in your own hands. This may leave you feeling powerless and weak.

When it comes to hardships in the Christian life, or significant “feats of faith” our minds frequently turn to the sacrifices and struggles of distant missionaries or heroes of the faith from the past. However, God has promised each one of his children that “we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22). Perhaps the following situation may hit closer to home:  Your own loved one, slipping away in front of you, with an eternity awaiting them. You feel too weak to do anything to help.

This is exactly what God is looking for.

You likely know the following verses very well and perhaps you were anticipating them while reading. The Apostle Paul, in handling the “thorn in the flesh” that was given to him to prevent him from becoming proud, refers us back to words from our Savior:

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

Do you want to feel weak? Talk to someone about the Lord whose 1) death you cannot delay and 2) whose soul you cannot save. And you know, this is true of every unbeliever you see!

It is okay to feel weak in this situation. In fact, based on the verses above, I think it is necessary. Paul tells us to take pleasure in this, because it is only in our weakness that we can see the strength of Christ perfected, and our lives empowered. When Christ becomes our all-satisfying treasure, seeing yourself as nothing and Him as everything in EVERY situation will bring Him glory and you an increasing joy regardless of what the circumstances look like.

Our flesh wants us to head in the opposite direction. “I must be able to help somehow.”  “I will find a way.”  There is no elbow-grease solution to the work of God. Why? Because only God can do His work. Amazingly, when you recognize this, He will begin to use you in performing that miraculous work that only He can do!

My advice is then, if you want to help someone in eternal things is to be weak and let God make you strong.

The views expressed in this opinion piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Reason Together Podcast.