Deconstructing The Purpose Drive Life - Chapter 35

God's Power in your Weakness

If reading this book was a race, I did more than stop for a rest. I would have been disqualified for taking a nap. In any event, although all the spectators have long since headed home, I am back on the track and sprinting for the finish.

In this chapter of The Purpose Driven Life, Richard Warren continues with his Dr. Phil cum laude approach of extolling the Christian life. He tells us how God loves to use weak people and then breaks out the inevitable bullet points:

• Admit your weaknesses - we all have them;


• Be content with your weaknesses - they cause us to depend on god, prevent us from becoming arrogant and encourage fellowship;


• Honestly share your weaknesses; and


• Glory in your weaknesses.

If you have reached this point of the post without falling asleep, you might be beginning to understand why I took a couple of months off from this rag. However, as with most of Richard's chapters, this one has a comedic jewel: a reference to Genesis 32. This passage, verbatim from Richard, is a great example of the pearls of wisdom brought forth in this book:

"Sometimes, however, God turns a strength into a weakness in order to use us even more. Jacob was a manipulator who spent his life scheming and then running from the consequences. One night he wrestled with God and said "I'm not letting go until you bless me". God said "All right", but then he grabbed Jacob's thigh and dislocated his hip. What is the significance of that? [please tell us Pastor Richard]

God touched Jacob's strength (the thigh muscle is the strongest in the body) and turned it into a weakness. From that day forward, Jacob walked with a limp so he could never run away again. It forced him to lean on God whether he liked it or not. If you want God to bless you and use you greatly, you must be willing to walk with a limp for the rest of your life, because God uses weak people."

I can only conclude that Richard is referring to a mental limp.