“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.”
2 Corinthians 12: 9
The word “vulnerable” gets tossed about frequently. It’s often used in reference to those who are disenfranchised, impoverished, without a voice in society, living on the fringes – those who need our sympathy, our understanding, our generosity, and goodwill. That is an appropriate use of the term.
But if we are honest, to one degree or another, we all have our vulnerabilities.
Vulnerable defined:
Merriam-Webster: “physically or emotionally wounded; open to attack or damage: assailable.”
Cambridge Dictionary: “Able to be easily physically or mentally hurt, influenced, or attacked.”
During our early years of marriage, my husband enjoyed watching televised boxing matches – thankfully, ultimate fighting wasn’t a “thing” at that time. I never understood how he enjoyed what seemed to me to be so brutal, bloody, and pointless.
When he eventually realized how disturbing I found the sport, he graciously moved on to golf, basketball, and fishing programs. Thinking back on the few boxing matches that I stuck around to watch, what seemed so cruel to me (aside the inevitable bloody nose and split lip) was how a boxer would attack his opponent’s weak spot.
As soon as one of the boxers suffered an injury – no matter how minor – that injured area would become the focus of the opponent’s vicious blows. A small cut over the eye would become the target of the boxer’s unrelenting glove creating a swollen, temporarily blinded, bloody mess in seconds. A hard jab to the ribs that found its mark would then receive repeated hits further weakening the wounded boxer with every strike. Mean and cruel.
Friend, this is how Satan attacks. He identifies your vulnerabilities: the bruised spirit, the aches and pains of failed relationships, sorrows of loved ones lost, a seemingly small favorite sin, failures and flaws that bring shame every time they come to mind, any chink in your armor, or a tiny tear in the fabric of your faith. Once the vulnerability is identified, the relentless, deceitful battering begins.
Do not underestimate the skill, ability, or ruthlessness of The Enemy.
Sucker punches – you betcha!
Below the belt jabs – count on it!
Satan is looking for a KO. Nothing pleases the Evil One more than seeing one of God’s children lying flat on the ground unable to stand strong in her faith.
Satan will use every tool at his disposal, including God’s Word. His knowledge of God and of Scripture is disturbingly extensive. Remember Satan was once a member of the heavenly host, he knows God; he wants to be God. He will lie and pervert the truth about God to confuse and unsettle you. Satan knows Scripture and he will mix Scripture with lies in his attacks on you.
When Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness for forty days and forty nights of prayer and fasting, Satan used Scripture in his failed attempts to tempt Jesus to disobey His Father and betray the work of redemption that He came to earth to accomplish. (Matthew 4:1-11)
Friend, you must know your areas of weakness; recognize your vulnerabilities. Just like the fighter knows his opponent’s tender areas, Satan knows where you have been wounded – that is exactly where he will attack.
Pray specifically for strength, protection, discernment, and resolve to do right and think right. Name those areas that you know are most susceptible to Satan’s jabs and claim God’s power over them and His promises to stand with you and fight for you when the attacks come.
“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.” Romans 8: 26
Jesus is our prime example for how to deflect Satan’s attacks. Instead of arguing with Satan or trying to rationalize the half-truths that Satan spoke when he referenced Scripture, Jesus simply quoted His Father. Jesus accurately and appropriately quoted Scripture. (Matthew 4:1-11)
The Apostle Paul was a man with many vulnerabilities: physical, emotional, and mental.
- His body had been physically weakened from battering and abuse as He served Jesus and His Church.
- He was under great emotional strain as he poured himself out in love and concern for those converted through his ministry and stretched himself often to the breaking point to reach those who had not yet heard the Gospel of Jesus.
- A man with a brilliant mind – a student of the Word of God and the Law, capable of intelligently presenting and arguing Truth with the brightest minds of the time, and, no doubt, able to clearly recall every Christian he persecuted and every believer his actions sentenced to death before he became a Christian.
How did Paul, a man with so many vulnerabilities (2 Corinthians 11:16-12:10) combat the attacks of the Enemy?
If you were to ask Paul that question directly, his answer would likely be the length of one of his epistles or maybe he’d tell you to read the thirteen New Testament books that he wrote. I’ll simply point out two things that stand out for me:
- Paul recognized that it was only in his weakness that he could fully experience the strength of God’s power and grace.
“But He (Jesus) 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.” 2 Corinthians 12:9,10
- Paul knew that his strength would come from God. He also knew that it was his job to accept God’s equipping so that he would be prepared for the fiery darts that Satan hurled in his direction. (Ephesians 6:10-18)
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10,11
Yes, as believers we are under attack. Satan targets our weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
I have vulnerabilities.
You have vulnerabilities.
All of God’s children have vulnerabilities.
But it is into our vulnerabilities that God will step, pouring His strength, power, boldness, and might into our weakness so that we can overcome the attacks of Satan.
“…in all these things we are more than conquerors through HIM who loved us.” Romans 8:37