I watched in the mirror as the young woman curled my hair. The formal event was staring in just a few hours, and a group of my friends had gathered to prepare together. The lady smiled as she held the curling iron steady. “So what is your book about?” She asked.
I remembered that my mom had mentioned it to her earlier. “It’s a devotional to help teen girls who have gone through their parents divorce.” I replied. “I just finished it the other day, and I’m really excited about it!”
“Wow, that’s great! You’re writing from experience, I assume?
I paused to think of a way to answer. I didn’t like to sound like I was complaining when I told someone about my book and the circumstances that brought me to write it.
Have you ever felt a twinge of guilt when talking about your problems or prayer requests? As though maybe you were exaggerating? I have definitely felt this when writing blog posts about the challenges of divorce. I wonder if I’m exaggerating the situation or if I’m prolonging the whole experience. Maybe I should just stick with devotional writing without including personal stories, I think.
I was contemplating this the other day when I realized something: if I don’t acknowledge the difficulty of a situation, how can God be glorified in it? God’s power is manifested when it is obvious that the solution did not come from me. We see proof of this in 2 Corinthians 12:9 after Paul asks God to take away a significant challenge in his life. God answers “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” Paul then concludes that he will talk gladly about his weaknesses so that “the power of Christ may rest upon [him].”
Do you avoid talking about your failures? Paul didn’t. Our failures and challenges, when contrasted against God’s power, bring glory to God.
Comments on: "Wonderful Weakness" (7)
Hi Aimee
you are so right when you wrote: if I don’t acknowledge the difficulty of a situation, how can God be glorified in it?
We don’t know the stories of others lives – we will never know what story or what combination of words will touch another’s life but God does
Blessings
susie
Susie, that’s a great point. God could be using our stories in ways that we would never imagine. Thanks for sharing. =)
Aimee,
I’m so happy that you finished writing your book! What an accomplishment! God has given you a message, and He is teaching you a lot through your trials. May you continue to use your experiences to bring others closer to the Lord!
Thanks for your encouragement, Danielle!
Hello Aimee,
Congratulations on the completion of your book! Continue to be led of the Lord, as you share with us out of your experiences. You will never know the reach of your encouragement to others! Just keep your ear to God’s mouth, and he will direct your paths! God bless you!
Paulette
Paulette,
Somehow your comment got stuck in the spam folder and I didn’t see it until now. Thanks so much for your kind words and great advice!
The greatest miracles come to us in our weakness: the cross, sanctification and countless blessings that we did not earn or could not possibly prepare for ourselves. I’m glad that God is setting your mind at ease regarding your weakness. He surely is glorified in it. And, Oh! You just completed your book!! I’m so proud of you and I would love to read it.
How are/have you gotten it published? You had a contract with that publisher at the GPCWC last year, right?