Our weaknesses are no surprise to God. God strengthens us in areas where we have grown and encourages us in the areas where we still need to grow.
You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry. (Psalm 10:17 NIV)
God reassures us that His grace is sufficient to meet all our needs for His power will support us when we acknowledge our weakness before Him. The evil one says, “Failure” and God says “You are growing more and more like Jesus.” How comforting and reassuring it is to know that God is aware that on our journey we will make mistakes as part of our growing and maturing.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:27-28 NIV)
How do we defeat discouragement in life and recovery when others accuse and condemn us? Jesus knows how, and He tells us: “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.” (Luke 6:27-28 NIV)
Any words said to us by others, or from our own self-criticism, are simply words we need to let go of. God speaks the truth to us in love, and He challenges us to do the same when we speak to ourselves or others. When we confess our sin and shortcomings to Him, God never accuses or condemns us. When we ask for His help and turn away from our sin, God sees us through the blood of Jesus which washes us clean from all wrong doing. God’s word is trustworthy and He says,
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1 NIV)
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