I was driving home this morning from an appointment and I was feeling kind of sad. Lately things just don’t seem to be going my way and I find little happiness in my day to day affairs. In my head as I drove, I asked God to help me and then I looked up and there was one of those billboards with a Bible verse on it glaring back at me “My power works best in weakness.” I read it and reread it. What was that suppose to mean? Was this some kind of riddle?
I was really having trouble understanding what it meant and even after Googling the verse I lacked further clarification. My power works best in weakness? I suppose it means that at your weakest point is when you need to be the strongest. That this is the time to sink or swim- will you pull yourself out of the metaphorical gutter or just waste away? I have pulled myself out of a lot of gutters, for sure. I continue to do so on most days even my worst ones. I have done it so many times that I have become self reliant- maybe too self reliant. I do not trust nor depend on other people. After being let down time and time again, I learned that trust is not something I should exercise with anyone. Even with my closest friends and family it is difficult for me. So instead of a trusting person, I have become a more do- it-yourself-take-charge person. This does not work when trying to relate to other people, however.
I guess in a way I have become a fighter and every day it is a struggle to maintain the strength I have gained, to make the right choices and to be fair to other people without slighting them or myself. I try to exist in a delicate balance and feel my way through most situations before making a definitive decision. Even my worst decisions were things I felt needed to be said or done at the time regardless of the backlash. I do not usually stop until I reach my goals and at times that has resulted in results that were somewhat successful.
Unfortunately these virtues do not translate well when applied to relating to other people. People don’t like to be pushed. Though I understand this, I sometimes fail to recognize my behavior until it is too late. I have definitely gotten better about it and can step back easily. But still I have trouble trusting people to do what they say they will do.
It was fear that created this monster, fear or being let down, fear of surrendering control, fear of what the other person would do once the control had been surrendered. At times it seems better to hold onto and throw myself into things because letting go and trusting another person to do you right is scary. The possibility that they won’t is even scarier. For some reason it is easier to be persistent and do what you do best without waiting for the help and input of others than trying to surrender control (which can essentially be translated into “instead of trying trust”).
Someone once told me that I need to be more submissive. The thought alone made me laugh. When I think of the word “submissive” it makes me think of weakness not strength. I do not think my perception accounts for the entirety of the word. I think this part of #43 of the Tao Te Ching sums up the submissiveness this person was talking about:
“The gentlest thing in the world
overcomes the hardest thing in the world.
That which has no substance
enters where there is no space.
This shows the value of non-action.”
It seems that it is more about being yielding than subservient. I think by submissive they also meant trust and patience. Patience I can do, trust, well I’m still working on that one. Man is fallible. God is infallible. It may be a while before I can truly trust in man but until then it is calming to know I can always trust in God.
Today I felt powerless. It is not that I am tired, rather my efforts feel like they have been put forth in vain; it feels like everything is out of my control. “My power works best in weakness” must mean that when you are unable to enact the change you wish to see in your world it is best to surrender to the higher power and let God take back control of things, at least for a little while.
Someone once told me that I need to be more submissive
Only if you want to enter the S & M field..
Be yourself and ease on down the road
LOL been there done that- Just kidding!! Good advice..
“My power works best in weakness” points to the paradox of faith and in life for most of us. faith is the belief in that which is unseen. hope is not needed by those who have everything going their way but for those who find nothing going their way. courage is not needed by the strong and powerful but by the weak. steadfastness is not required by those who never falter and so on.
So that is what it means- this is the best explanation I’ve come across
happy to help. thanks to CS Lewis and Saint Cyprian as well.
I think people become submissive due to lack or hurt self confidence…. Even in daily rutine things you once did and never thought twice about you then struggle with(I know from my own fear of trust that this is what I have become- submissive and only because I am lacking self confidence!!!)
Where did our self confidence go???
How can I rope it back in???
Hello self confidence where are you???
I am now living on my own and for the first six months I did a lot of reflecting on my past… Mistakes I’ve made.. The hurt I’ve endured, the hurt I have caused…
I think walking around with the burden of your past can also affect you day to day activities….
I think your on the right road Hayley.. This is a good outlet!! Just keep talking– you may have feelings that you may be ashamed of but make sure you are venting them to someone because, no matter what it is how you feel…
People sometimes say to me “well I don’t know why you feel like that…”
I HATE that because no matter what(what it took you mentally to get there-what you went through) they are still your feelings;-)
Keep up the good work!!
Surround yourself with positive people;-)
And I am still happy that one day long ago I was given a hayleys sexy seal of approval(from a then young, bright, beautiful, positive girl-which I know you still are;-)
Thanks! Haha-Hayley’s Sexy Seal of Approval- count yourself approved 🙂
It seems from what you say that being on your own might be the best thing that has happened for you in a long while- in terms of personal growth and healing- I’m sure it is difficult in many other facets but when it comes to the introspective facet, I feel like the alone time was much needed to propel that forward- it’s almost like when you were around or with other people you became to distracted and suppressed everything- It sounds like you are on the right track!
Was this the billboard:
2 Corinthians 12:9
New International Version (NIV)
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. ” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.???
Yes I think maybe I left some of it out- the billboard is near exit 25 on I-84
Yea I believe that’s the one- I passed by it last week…
Submissives are just as powerful as Dominants. In your weakness there lies the power. It seems to me you and all of us humans have some heavy loads to bear. Trying to control the outcome 0f anything means you are going down the wrong path. When we join each other on our respective journeys up and down the hills of life we can find peace and good company.
Interesting. Like a ying yang I suppose