Episode 154: Strength in Weakness

Strength in Weakness -  Episode 154

 “There is no such thing as strengths and weaknesses - it is all context”  Hey all!! So excited about this episode's topic of strength in weakness and really thinking about our weaknesses in a whole different way.  I share this week about my experience helping my brother prepare for his job interview and then thought about this idea of sharing your weakness.  I then share a few other things that I realized and heard from a few different sources, a guest on Follow him, Jody Moore and Simon Sinek.  Let’s rethink the way we look at the things we may think are a “weakness.”

Show Notes:  Hi Friends! I hope you enjoyed listening to this episode.  Below are all the references. 

What I learned:  I learned a lot about weakness.  That we can think of weakness as our strength overused (heard this from Jody Moore).  Weakness is a state we are in so that we can learn to connect with other people and rely more on Jesus Christ.  Plus I loved the idea from Simon Sinek that weakness is really just context and that we can learn to stack the deck as we see in what context our attributes work the best.  I think my favorite is that it is strength to admit that you have a weakness and need help.  Below are the sources and references I used for this episode. 

The guest was Dr. Joseph Spencer  *From the Follow Him Transcripts


Dr. Joseph Spencer: 44:11 (time in the podcast)

“But the other way it can be heard of course too is that God's power, God's strength is made perfect in humans embracing their weakness. If human beings are strong enough on their own, if they're somehow good enough to do it all on their own, then where would God's strength show up? We wouldn't need it. We wouldn't ask for it. Only inasmuch as we are weak and we stop running from the fact that we're weak can God's strength be made perfect, show up in the world.” 

Dr. Joseph Spencer:  47:56

Exactly. There's actually a line in Ether 12 that I think we often read poorly if we don't read it with Paul. Ether 12:27, there are actually a lot of things in this verse we read poorly, I think, in everyday ways. The Lord's speaking to Moroni here, and we're seeing very similar language to Paul. "If men come unto me, I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble, and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me. For if they humble themselves before me and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them." I think we have a tendency to read that last line as meaning something like I have things that are particular weaknesses to me, and yet I can replace those with strengths. But I wonder if that's the right way to hear it when the wording is, "I will make weak things become strong."

Dr. Joseph Spencer 48:50 

 That's not necessarily replacement. It could be that once we recognize that weakness is in fact a gift, which is how the Lord talks about it there, then those weak things embraced as weak things are strong. At least that's the way Paul talks in the very next verse back in 2 Corinthians 12 in verse 10. "Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distress for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." It's not that the weakness has to be replaced with a strength. It's when I finally stop resisting the fact that I am weak, oh, wretched man that I am, that's the very moment that I'm strong. It may be then weak things becoming strong is not at all replacement. Weak things are strong in their weakness. I'm struck, Ether 12 just going on, verse 28, this is still the Lord speaking. 


Dr. Joseph Spencer 49:30

He promises to show the Gentiles their weakness. That might feel like it's unconnected from what he says next, but I think it's actually directly connected. So he says, "I will show unto the Gentiles their weakness, and I will show unto them that faith, hope, and charity bringeth unto me the fountain of all righteousness." So, what does showing the Gentiles their weakness have to do with showing them that faith, hope, and charity brings to Christ? I think the answer has to be that faith, hope, and charity are perfect examples of something that is profoundly weak and profoundly strong. If I have faith, it means I don't know. I can't prove. I can't just knock everyone over with it. It's weak. It's a position of weakness, and yet, faith is what moves mountains. Faith is the strongest force we can have in Christ. 



2 Conrinthians 12: 9-10

9 And he said unto me, My agrace is sufficient for thee: for my bstrength is made perfect in cweakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may drest upon me.

10 Therefore I take pleasure in ainfirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in bpersecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am cweak, then am I dstrong.

Stop Overdoing Your StrengthsReprint: R0902J Although most managers can recognize an off-kilter leader (consider the highly supportive boss who cuts people too much slack), it’s quite difficult to see overkill in yourself. Unfortunately, that’s where leadership development tools such as 360-degree surveys fail to deliver, say Kaplan and Kaiser. Dividing qualities into “strengths” and “weaknesses” and rating them on a five-point scale will not account for strengths overplayed. The authors suggest several strategies, based on their years of consulting experience and research, for figuring out which attributes you’ve employed to excess and adjusting your behavior accordingly. Strengths taken too far have two consequences: First, they become weaknesses. For instance, quick-wittedness can turn into impatience with others. Second, you’re at risk of becoming extremely lopsided—that is, diminishing your capacity on the opposite pole. A leader who is very good at building consensus, for example, may take too long to move into action. To strike a balance between two key leadership dualities—forceful versus enabling, and strategic versus operational—you need to see your actions and motivations clearly. That’s no easy task since most leadership development tools don’t spell out that you’re overdoing your strengths. But there are other ways to bring that information to light. You can start with a review of the highest ratings on your most recent 360 report. Ask yourself: Is this too much of a good thing? Another technique is to make a list of the traits you most want to have as a leader. Are you going to extremes with any of them? To check for lopsidedness, you can prompt feedback from other people with a list of qualities you’ve composed or one you’ve gleaned from other sources. Once you know which attributes you’re overdoing, you can recalibrate.

I was reminded of the 4 pillars from The Confident Mind by Nate Zinsser

#2 Inevitable Human Imperfection.  You Won’t Escape It, So You Might as Well Make Friends with It.


“If you punish yourself for each and every mistake, error, and imperfection, it’s impossible to be confident.” (p35)


“Be curious about your imperfections.  They are valuable sources of information. 

What is this mistake telling me?  What will I do differently next time to make it turn out better?” They become friendly stepping stones. (p37)