I stood close by and watched as my two year old attempted to pull our heavy bag full of pool towels and lunches to the car. She is in a stage of growing independence and at the same time she is learning what she is still incapable of in her own strength.

This is often very hard for her to acknowledge. As she struggled with the bag, I waited for her to finally stop and say, “Mommy, can you help me?”

I have learned that standing back and waiting for her to discover her own limitations is priceless. If I rush in and grab the bag saying, “Honey, that’s too big for you!” She will surely protest and try to prove me wrong. But, as hard as it may be for me (and her) at times, to wait and let her struggle as she discovers her own limitations, it provides her with the chance to wrestle with tasks and then ask me for help when she needs it.

I’m a lot like my two year old. In fact, sometimes I am much worse at admitting when I need help.

The Thorns in Our Flesh

An independent, “I-CAN-DO-IT-MYSELF” attitude can only get us so far. Acknowledging our limitations sets us free to receive Christ’s power. In fact, It is only when our limits and helplessness are acknowledged that Christ can come in and meet our needs with His unlimited power supply of grace.

The apostle Paul is considered by many to be the most influential of all the apostles in the early church. And yet God gave him a “thorn in the flesh” that was a constant reminder of his limitations.

While we aren’t sure what this “thorn” was, we know that it kept Paul humble and that he pleaded with God to take it away from him. God responded, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). He learned through this interaction with God to boast in his weakness rather than deny it, because it was only through that weakness that Christ’s power could rest upon him.

Admitting Our Helplessness

Jennifer Kennedy Dean, in her book Set Apart, shares the story of how she lost her husband to brain cancer. She recalls, “During the final months of his illness, he became utterly helpless. The man I had leaned on for 25 years, whose strength I counted on, was now dependent on me for his every need…When he was strong, I was not so attentive. His needs did not fill my waking moments, when he could meet them himself. His helplessness spoke louder than any word he might have spoken. Because of his helplessness – because I knew he could do nothing on his own, I was on watch day and night. My experience is but a pale shadow of the reality of the Kingdom, but it still helps me understand how my weakness is the opening for His strength. The fact of my helplessness is the only prayer I need. It speaks louder than eloquence.”

When we humble ourselves and admit our deep need for God, He will come into those empty, weak, hallow places and fill them with His mighty power and grace. But we must acknowledge that we cannot and never will be able to save ourselves, to heal ourselves, to be everything to everyone, to accomplish anything without Him.

Where have you been struggling against your own limitations? Where do you keep pressing on in spite of your inability to fix something in your own strength? We all have “thorns” in our flesh that Christ has allowed to remain in order that His power (not ours) may be demonstrated through them. Take a moment today and turn to Christ who waits patiently for you to invite Him in.

His power is available to help you, but you must first acknowledge your need.