"Therefore (T)I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with (U)distresses, with (V)persecutions, with (W)difficulties, (X)for Christ's sake; for (Y)when I am weak, then I am strong."
I can remember when I was younger sitting in a room with friends shootin the breeze about various topics and of course since I surely was not trying to run for jesus all the conversations went to about girls or all kinds of stuff we probrably should not have been talking about. I can remember in all those conversations there was always one person who just would not join in on the conversation. Often times he was called weak or being a "punk" because he didnt feel a need to talk about those things. After a while everyone left him alone because he no longer responded to the insults any more he just kept quiet and felt no need to constantly prove himself anymore. The word esteem by definition means "respect or regard"and then the word self means you. So self-esteem is the respect or regard you have for yourself. If I truly have respect and regard for myself than I feel no need to justify you why I don't do like you do. I'm not saying I am better than you but surely I'm not worse than you either. The struggle sometimes is when everyone does it one way but because of the respect for yourself you go another way, and the ridicule you recieve because you did difference. I like what Paul does here in this scripture he affirms that his idenity is in Christ he boldly says that he is ok with weakness(human weakness), insults, distresses, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ sake, because where he is weak (in the flesh) he is strong or powerful (in Christ). Therefore, there is no need to constantly change your position or re-affirm yourself so that others will like you. Paul makes it clear persecute me or make fun of me because of how I walk, how I talk, it really does not matter I am clear that my value and identity is firmly rooted in Christ. Alot of times our identity is in so many different things that our esteem for ourselves flucuates when those things arent going well. Most popularly are relationships...when your identity is in your relationship that thing controls you and when your worried about losing that person that thought crushes you and to some extent you should feel some heartbreak but no much that you lose your sense of existence. When a person has made up in their mind that they would have someone else over you there is nothing you can do but accept that and even thank them for no longer waisting your time. The idea is that is difficulty that can occur and like Paul said just accept that and move on because in Christ you are made stronger. I am not saying that you should not love someone because that is a beautiful thing what I am saying is that if you dont love you first they never will. When you have a strong sense of identity in Christ you have no reason to worry, or re-affirm, or go crazy, you are so confident in him that created you that you know whatever happens will happen for my good. That's how Joseph was able to tell his brothers after the pit, the prison, and the palace "what you meant for my bad God meant for my good.(Genesis 50:20). When your on the job and they all wana go left but GOd says go right than GO RIGHT!! They will make fun of you, ridicule you but "Blessed are those who have been (M)persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for (N)theirs is the kingdom of heaven."- Matthew 5:10. So he/she gone cheat or break up with you than let them have it...you have no reason to fear or think you won't make it. It will be hard and there will be some pain but again it does not matter any more if your idenity in Christ, in that moment of weakness when you feel that pain he will give you that strength. If your outspoken, quiet, intelligent, keen, respectful, organized or whatever than that is who God created you to be, and the reason you keep feeling so uncomfortable all the time is because your trying to fix that so that you can fit in with everyone else. When God saved you he never took those characteristics away from you, he merely uses them for his glory, after all he put them in you. When Paul was saved his high merit and intelligence never ceased he wrote those books like an astout man of God. He merely recognized that it was for Christ, and not for him. Apolgizing for living holy is absurd, one thing about Christ, he never had to prove himself. He walked his walk and talked his talk. Don't be you for the world but BE YOU IN CHRIST!! If you dont love you than that is why everyone wont love you either. You know who you are in Christ and what he has been telling you to do. Stop apologizing for who you and be that person. You dont have to cuss, you dont have to drink(nothing wrong with drinking if your 21 and up the idea is you dont need to do it to fit in), have sex, lie, steal,cheat. But if you choose too (no way in any way fashion or form condoning it or even encouraging it) do them because you think for yourself. Alot of has have the past we have and even the present now because we were too afraid to say no. God loves you not matter what you done, but you can avoid something by having the confindence and boldness to say...NO and keep going. My friends there is a rich treasure lying inside of you that you will untap when you become loving of you are in Christ. God will lead you to this discovery when you find yourself in Christ. God bless you all and thank you for reading.
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