2 Corinthians 6:4” In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind”

For when I am weak, then I am strong

I am reading the Bible during 2016 since it has been a few years since I have read it from cover to cover. I use a pre-established reading plan. I usually do well until I get into the chapters in Numbers and Kings that detail out all the family lineages but I press on. One thing that jumps out to me as I read about many of the people in the Bible is all the imperfections in them. For example, it is thought Moses had a speech impairment; Paul had an unknown ‘thorn in the flesh;” Noah got drunk; Jacob lied; and Abraham was old just to mention just a few. God used imperfect people to complete His work on earth.

I find the fact that God can use imperfect people very comforting. I have many of my own imperfections. A few of them include that I am stubborn and I like to be in control of a situation. I work hard to keep these issues under control with God’s help. The one issue in my life that requires me to rely completely on God during my mission work and that is my Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I struggle with lots of stomach issues on every mission trip. I cannot control this situation. It requires me to find bathrooms in very questionable places. Imagine driving across the African Savannah when the urgent need hits, or shopping in an open-air market in Kathmandu. Sometime I find no toilets or worse; sometimes I find dirty, smelly pit latrines. At times, it gets so bad I think about giving up on mission work altogether. I question why God would use someone with my problems. God has a purpose for this too and I am slowly learning to thank Him even when I can’t find a bathroom.

God reminds me of all the people in the Bible and all their issues. If God could use them with their problems, then He can use me with mine too. In addition, if He can use me, He can use you too no matter what baggage you have in your life. God never promised following Him would be easy or that He would take away all our problems. In fact, He likes to use the weak, imperfect, problem riddled people to accomplish His mighty acts in the world. I am so thankful that He chooses to use me in spite of my weakness.

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