Ever Heard "God When I Am Weak, You Are Strong"?

If you're running around in Christian circles for a few minutes you'll probably hear something that sounds like this.

God When I Am Weak, You Are Strong

It comes out in a large number of versions, but you'll most likely recognize the sentiment in it.

Now most times people hear this they "get it" or "understand it" to a sufficient degree, and they even continue on their merry way after nodding in agreement.

But how many people stop and actually think about it. Let alone digest it? I didn't until just recently. How about you?

It's challenging today in 2026 to stop and think past the initial thought. Life is busy and moving at a suicidal pace with family, spouses, kids, work, medical, sports, politics and screaming lunatics on the internet.

It hit me that I hadn't thought much past the thought on this the other weekend during the sermon.

What does this mean, or more curiously how does that work?

Well let's start with where it comes from, so we're all on the same page. It comes from 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. And I'll use ESV for a more common tongue read.

"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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." [Bible Link]

So looking at that. Two things stand out, which is where most people get the phrasing or paraphrasing from.

my power is made perfect in weakness

and

For when I am weak, then I am strong

So now that we're all on the same page of reference and context. The question I asked myself was "How's that work? How is it that when we're weak, The Lord is strong?"

As I thought about it I started to focus on what happens when I am weak, rather than focusing on The Lord being strong.

• What do I do when I cannot carry something anymore?
• What do I do when something is too much of a strain to deal with?
• What do I do when I yell at the heaven's "I can't do this any more!"

While the situations can be different I realized my body and my mind (and therefore my spirit) do the same thing in each scenario.

I let go of something.

Sure it comes out with a big exhale. Or a big yell. Or a big cry. Or a big collapse to your knees. Or sometimes it's just being frozen in a state of panic & anxiety & terror & confusion & fear & & & & &&& &&& &&& &&....

But when you reach the end of your ability to control something, handle something, juggle something, carry something, hold something, chase something, pray for something you end up hitting the wall. And you let go of that emotional / mental iron grip you have on something.

And as we let go of that something, we ask or beg The Lord to pick it up for us. Because we cannot hold it anymore...

Suddenly in that massive exhale, in that relaxing the grip you have on something:

• You let The Lord drive
• You let The Lord make the decision
• You let The Lord choose your friends
• You let The Lord choose your spouse, or to remain single
• You let The Lord choose your relationship or marriage path forward
• You let The Lord guide you to take the new job
• You let The Lord decide whether you share that info with your friend or not
• etc

Suddenly it starts to make a lot of sense.

The Lord's strength is very apparent when you let go of something and let The Lord pick it up for you. In our weakness, we have to let our grip on some things go, and when we do The Lord is strong enough to grip it where we could not.

The scripture even says:

for my power is made perfect in weakness.

It truly is perfect when you have to let go of something and The Lord picks it up and helps you. His power is very visible, very present, very tangible when you're weakness causes you to release something and He still has the strength to hold it.

Great stuff to think about. Even better stuff to pray about in the coming days. More understanding on this would be amazing. But in saying all that it begs a question of myself:

Why do I keep trying to be strong so much...?