Trading Weakness for Strength

Who knew shopping for a sofa and matching chairs would turn out to be the most difficult shopping chore of my life? No, I’m not exaggerating. Just ask my husband Don. I dragged him along each step of the way.

We hadn’t shopped for a sofa for over twenty years, and boy, have things ever changed. Judging by the depth of the seat cushions, you’d think we live in a land of giants. In order to sit in the majority of what’s available now, you have to be propped up by pillows.

Since neither Don nor I wanted to do this, our shopping outings—which began over a year ago and got waylaid by life—took on the air of a serious search rather than a fun shopping task. After finally finding a sofa that would work for us, the next step—selecting a fabric—loomed before me like an unwanted surgery.

Why such dread? I have virtually no ability to envision how something will look if it’s not the finished product. I’m also craft-challenged so just the thought of looking at fabrics and making choices (expensive ones!) nearly sent me into panic mode. To make matters worse, we also needed to find the kind of chairs we wanted to go with the sofa and then select fabric for those—and all of this from squares of fabric samples. I started feeling short of breath just thinking about it all.

Lucky for me—or should I say by God’s grace and perfect timing—I had just read the passage in 2 Corinthians where the Lord tells Paul that His power is made perfect in weakness. Paul then declares “when I am weak, then I am strong.” (12:10b) I knew the same could be true for me and my overwhelming task. I could trade my interior decorating and craft-challenged weaknesses for my God’s perfect power and strength. I just needed to relax about it all and trust in His ability to help me. I decided to do just that.

Did everything go without a hitch? Of course not. Issues always seem to arise. Was making the decisions still difficult? Yes, but at least I was able to function rather than being frozen by fear. In fact, at only one point on decision day did I come close to a melt-down. The Lord helped me and Don each step of the way and even guided us through some unforeseen challenges where the chairs were concerned. His power was made perfect in our weakness, and He provided what we needed.

Do you need to trade some weakness for strength today? I know just where you can get it. And you won’t have to shop your brains out in the process :) Just turn to God. Just trust in Him.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ . . . That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9a, 10

*Flickr photo by kelsey_lovefusionphoto

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Comments

  1. Thank God for his guiding presence and strength! Would love to see the pictures once you get them moved in. We bought a new couch and chair when we moved last year. Unlike you, I picked out a couch/chair already displayed in the showroom. Really enjoying them both!

    peace~elaine

  2. Can’t wait to see photos when you get them. Great post.

  3. I’m just going to chime in and request photos once you decide and get the new furniture. ;)

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