Weakness as Advantage

If Dependence on God Is the Goal, Weakness Is the Advantage

I love the way God flips the script. What the world despises, God uses. What the world calls weak, God calls strong. And nowhere is that clearer than in 2 Corinthians 12:9, where Paul writes, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.”

Let’s be real: nobody likes feeling weak. Weakness doesn’t win awards, it doesn’t get promotions, and it’s definitely not what you post on Instagram. We live in a culture that celebrates strength, self-sufficiency, and hustle. The message is clear: You’ve got this. You’re enough. But the Bible paints a very different picture. It says: You don’t got this. You’re not enough.

And that’s okay because God is.

Here’s the crazy thing about the kingdom of God: If dependence on Him is the goal, then weakness is the advantage. It’s not a setback or a liability. It’s the very thing that positions us to experience God’s power.

As I’ve thought about that truth, here are three lessons I’ve learned about weakness:

1. When a Dream Dies, Dependence on God Comes Alive

I don’t know about you, but I’ve had dreams die. Big ones. Dreams I thought were a sure thing, dreams I prayed for, dreams I really wanted. Maybe you’ve been there too—a job that didn’t come through, a relationship that ended, or a plan that completely fell apart. It’s gut-wrenching, isn’t it?

But here’s what I’ve learned: when a dream dies, it forces us to re-center our dependence. It strips away the illusion of control and reminds us where our hope really comes from. When your plans fail, God’s purpose comes into focus.

I remember a time when I thought I had my future all mapped out, but God had other plans. At first, I was devastated. But looking back, I can see how God used that season of loss to deepen my dependence on Him. It was in my emptiness that He filled me. It was in my brokenness that He built something better.

Here’s the truth: God’s purpose for your life is bigger than any one dream. When a door closes, it’s not the end of the story—it’s the beginning of a better one. Weakness isn’t the end; it’s the beginning of dependence.

2. When Your Strength Fails, God’s Power Prevails

Have you ever reached the end of your rope? Maybe you’re there right now. You’ve tried everything, you’ve given it your all, and you’ve got nothing left. It’s exhausting to feel like you have to hold everything together. But here’s the good news: you don’t.

God never asked you to be strong enough on your own. In fact, He’s waiting for you to admit you’re not. Our culture says, “You can do anything if you work hard enough.” But Jesus says, “Apart from me, you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

When we come to the end of ourselves, that’s where God begins. He doesn’t need your strength; He’s got plenty of His own. When your strength fails, God’s power prevails. Think about the story of Gideon. God took an army of thousands and whittled it down to just 300 men. Why? So that when they won the battle, everyone would know it was God’s victory, not theirs.

Your weakness is an opportunity for God to show up in ways you never imagined.

It’s not about what you can do; it’s about what He can do through you.

3. Your Weaknesses Are Where His Grace Works Best

Let me say it plainly: your weaknesses are not something to hide. They’re not something to be ashamed of. They’re where God’s grace works best.

Paul said he “boasted” in his weaknesses—not because he loved being weak, but because his weakness was the platform for God’s power. When we try to cover up our struggles and pretend we’ve got it all together, we miss the opportunity to experience God’s grace in a profound way.

This isn’t about glorifying struggle; it’s about glorifying God in the midst of it. When you’re honest about your weaknesses, you open the door for God to work in ways that only He can. Your struggle might be the very thing that points someone else to Jesus.

Think about it: God doesn’t need your perfection to accomplish His plans. He just needs your willingness. And when you bring Him your weaknesses, He turns them into a testimony of His faithfulness.

Weakness Is the Way

So here’s the question: What if we stopped running from our weaknesses and started embracing them? What if we saw them not as obstacles but as opportunities?

If dependence on God is the goal, then weakness is the way. It’s not something to avoid; it’s something to boast in, just like Paul did. Why? Because our weaknesses are where God’s power shows up.

So today, whatever weakness you’re carrying, whatever dream has died, whatever strength has failed—don’t despise it. Lean into it. Because it’s there, in your weakness, that God does His best work.

Lucas Leibforth