All humans, by virtue of their natural origin from Adam after he sinned, are born with (and during their lifetime pick up) weaknesses. However, we all possess the ability to turn weaknesses into strengths, for the good of mankind and to the glory of God.
“I was born without talent . . . I even did not have hair on my head when I was born. But one day I said, ‘Wonderful Jesus, I have nothing to give you but my love. If you can use nothing, then use me’”. These were the words of Miss Kathryn Kuhlman, the great evangelist who was at the forefront of the Charismatic Movement in the 1970’s. Of course it is not true that she was born without talent; every person is born with talents. Miss Kuhlman was hyperbolically expressing her weaknesses, several of which were known publically. However, she turned weaknesses into strengths when she recognized that “God has chosen the foolish things of the world . . . and God has chosen the weak things of the world . . . and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not” (1 Corinthians 1:27-28). Her attitude was something like: “I am the best candidate God can use for His great purposes because I am weak without Him”. And surely God’s strength was made perfect in her weakness.
In Good Morning Holy Spirit (one of the best books you will ever read) by Benny Hinn, he too believes that his weaknesses, and surrender to God to be used ‘because’ of them, was the reason God bestowed greatness on him. As a child, he was a terrible stutterer, and that inability to express himself caused him to be withdrawn and to have a debilitating inferiority complex.
I can relate with Benny. I jokingly say (but it is true nonetheless) that one of my greatest miseries was caused by my father. He asked God to give him a son who he would name Moses and God granted that request “nebigenderako” – the stammering of Moses. One of my worst days in high school was when our teacher of English made us individually read out loud a portion from a story book. My vocal cords froze! Later at University, I hated clinical medicine because one had to clerk and present patients to the tutors – yet I could not speak! When I was doing my master’s degree, the high school devil resurfaced. I opted for a class I really liked but eventually expelled myself because I got so embarrassed when I failed to read out loud a portion from a research paper when my turn came.
However, I thank God that very early on in my salvation walk I had listened to Kathryn Kuhlman and Benny Hinn – how God turned their weaknesses into strength. I am also grateful to God for another teaching by Derek Prince that I listened to back then. Kathryn, Benny, and Derek Prince all gave me hope that by acknowledging my weakness, I was the best person to be used by God if only I could, like Kathryn, honestly say: “Wonderful Jesus, I have nothing to give you but my love. If you can use nothing, then use me”.
Never forget, and always be inspired by the fact that “God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29). Your weaknesses will be turned when you say, “Wonderful Jesus, I have nothing to give you but my love. If you can use nothing, then use me”. When you sincerely pray like that, you will be amazed at how people will see strength in the very place you were weak. Why? God’s strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
God bless you.