The Good News • December 2007

The Grace of Weakness

I once heard human nature in light of the Christian Faith described with this metaphor: Human life is like a house with three levels.

The first floor represents daily life. We try to keep it in order. Guests are entertained there and meals are prepared for many purposes. The nicest artifacts adorn walls and tables, china and silver find a place. It's the main floor, the place to meet the public.

It's not the most important level, although it pretends to be. The upper level is the balcony where the angels live. Each human life is graced with angels, if we allow them. Some are human, some divine. They beckon us as they proclaim "Peace on Earth," reminding us sometimes in the wee hours that God has made provision for others to cheer us on and help us through weary times.

The most difficult floor is the basement. Failure lives there as does all fear. Secrets, haunted memories, regrets, betrayals, shame, guilt and the occasional nightmare. The dark experience of life is there, sordid, and sometimes raw. You'd like to shut the door and lock it!

Christ lives there, too, and therefore this base level will be hallowed. The Lord was born in a stable or a cave, executed as a criminal, raised from a tomb. This same precious Lord takes my hand and leads me through times where my weakness is apparent, my knowledge insufficient, and the darkness too much. Our Lord even as a baby, carries enough light to get us through. Christ in weakness is greater than human strength.

"I shall therefore prefer to find my pride and joy in the very things that are my weakness; and then the power of Christ will come and rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

— John