When I was 11, I sprained a vital ligament in my knee which meant that I could not walk for about 3 months. Before I was able to get crutches to aid my walking I was hopping from place to place. There were times that I got very tired from hopping like a rabbit and my dad carried me (those times were great). Eventually when I began to regain function in my leg, I could walk again but with a limp. And then finally, after many months I was able to walk without limping.

Have you ever had an injury that caused you to limp? Or even if you haven’t had a major injury, I’m sure you can relate to those times when you stub a toe on a door or the side of a bed. (One of THE most excruciating type of pain I experience regularly 😩) After stubbing your toe, you may limp for a bit before the pain subsides.

So “why are you talking about limps you may be asking ?” After listening to Jonathan McReynolds’ song entitled ‘Limp’, I was led to write & share what I’ve learnt with you. A key message of this song is:  No matter how flawed we are God is the lifter of our heads. In spite of all our troubles, heartache and pain if we just keep the faith and keep walking God will give us strength back. 

Please take time to listen to the whole song (video is below), but for now here are some lyrics:

Limps are

Every weakness

Limps are every flaw

That keeps us from having

An otherwise perfect walk

And we were born

Handicapped

But God gives us strength back

And all that you lack

If you just keep on walking with your Limp

Other words that the word limp connotes include weaknesses, flaws, hindrances, limitations, things that slow us down and hinder our ability to do or achieve something which often leads to frustration. Do you know what the limp in your life is? It may be a sin, that you repeatedly commit and it hinders you from having that perfect relationship with God. Or it may be a physical barrier that hinders you from accomplishing what you desire. Or it could be something about your past that continues to hunt you. I’m sure you can think of a limp that is applicable to your life. Whatever it is remember the words of Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9 [God’s] grace is all you need. [God’s] power works best in weakness.

Although God did not remove Paul’s affliction, he promised to demonstrate His power in Paul. If we did not have weaknesses, God’s power and strength cannot manifest. The fact that God’s power shows up in our weaknesses should give us courage. As we recognize our limps, we should rely on God for our effectiveness rather than on our own energy, effort or talent. Our limps not only help develop Christian character, but also deepen our worship, because in admitting them, we affirm God’s strength.

Verse 10 goes on to say: That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

• Delight in your limps as they will be used for God’s glory
• When we are weak, we will have a greater tendency to allow God to fill us with His power, then we will be stronger than we ever were on our own.

There were many flawed bible characters who walked with limps. Take Saul as an example, his weakness was that he was stubborn. But God saw this weakness as energy and determination as a means of spreading the gospel. Romans 8:26 says the Holy helps our weakness. Paul’s weakness was an opportunity for him to rely on the grace of God in empowering him for effective service.

I pray that the Holy Spirit intervenes  in our lives and helps us in our weaknesses so that God’s power can work in us.

Stay Blessed,

Dara x

 

P.S – Thanks for all the support towards this blog. Continue to pray for me that despite my uni work, I’ll still be able to  keep on writing  🙏🏾