Your weakness and your destiny

Most of us have heard the story of Samson and Delilah: the strongest man alive, who was brought down by a cunning woman. 

He was was strong no doubt, and  dreaded by the Philistines, Israel's enemies. Yet he had a weakness. He had a soft spot for women who cried. Especially those who wanted him to prove his love by revealing secrets. 

You would think he would have learnt after his wife repeatedly begged him to tell her the answer to the riddle he had earlier asked her countrymen. Sadly he didn’t address his weakness and later fell for the same tricks with Delilah. This time, it cost him his destiny.

Yes, we know Samson later regained his strength and killed more Philistines in death than when he was alive. But think how much unnecessary shame, pain and grief he suffered before that happened. He had the potential to go much further, live longer, have children, and protect Israel longer. Sadly he didn’t.

He is not the only person in the Bible who destroyed his destiny because of indiscipline/unwillingness to manage their weaknesses. Gehazi, the servant of Elisha allowed his love for material things deny him the privilege of being Elisha’s successor. As a result he and his family ended up with the leprosy of Naaman (2 Kings 5:20-27).

Judas Iscariot was another person who had the potential of being great. He was with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. But he allowed his greed for money keep him from being all he could have been. He died a wretched man and his name is forever linked to treachery and betrayal.

Many of us will not enjoy the life God wants us to have because of

indiscipline and a refusal to confront our weaknesses. We find ourselves repeating the same mistake of giving into our weaknesses and then try to absolve ourselves. We often say things like “ Oh, its my weakness” or “ God’s grace is sufficient”. But like Samson, if we don’t confront that weakness, the next temptation we give into might be the last one that might ruin us.

Know this, the devil will only tempt you in areas where you are weak. When he tempted Jesus in the wilderness, he knew Jesus was hungry and weak from fasting for 40 days and 40 nights. The Bible says he is a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. If you watch wildlife documentaries, you will notice that lions often go after the vulnerable and weak animals in a herd. Even wrestlers and boxers will often keep hitting at an opponent’s weak spot in order to defeat him. And the devil uses the same strategy with each of us.

I ask you today, what is your weakness? What is that behaviour or mindset that has the capacity to ruin you? If you pretend you don’t have any weaknesses or cover it, you will always repeat the same mistakes like Samson did.

A wise person knows his/her weaknesses and disciplines himself/herself to avoid occasions or people that might lead to temptations. If Samson, Gehazi and Judas Iscariot had disciplined themselves more, their stories would have been different. 

Will you bear the pain of discipline for your weakness today or suffer the pain of regret tomorrow?

The good news is that God is always there to help us confront and conquer our weaknesses. If we cry out to Him to give us wisdom to identify our weaknesses and strength to overcome them, He will. 
Remember,  "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble" - Psalm 46:1.

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