Strength in Weakness: Trusting God's Power

Devotional

Day 1: God’s Strength Shines in Our Weakness

When everything we depend on is stripped away—our plans, our reputation, our sense of control—God meets us right in the middle of our weakness. It’s not in our moments of strength, but in our moments of uncertainty, fear, and exhaustion that God’s power is most clearly displayed. Like Gideon, who faced overwhelming odds with only a handful of unlikely warriors, we are reminded that God’s victory does not depend on our resources or abilities, but on His presence and promise. When we feel spent and unsure, that is the very place where God wants to work in and through us. [34:22]

Judges 7:1-8 (ESV)
Then Jerubbaal (that is, Gideon) and all the people who were with him rose early and encamped beside the spring of Harod. And the camp of Midian was north of them, by the hill of Moreh, in the valley. The LORD said to Gideon, “The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand, lest Israel boast over me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ Now therefore proclaim in the ears of the people, saying, ‘Whoever is fearful and trembling, let him return home and hurry away from Mount Gilead.’” Then 22,000 of the people returned, and 10,000 remained. And the LORD said to Gideon, “The people are still too many. Take them down to the water, and I will test them for you there, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ shall go with you, and anyone of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ shall not go.” So he brought the people down to the water. And the LORD said to Gideon, “Everyone who laps the water with his tongue, as a dog laps, you shall set by himself. Likewise, everyone who kneels down to drink.” And the number of those who lapped, putting their hands to their mouths, was 300 men, but all the rest of the people knelt down to drink water. And the LORD said to Gideon, “With the 300 men who lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hand, and let all the others go every man to his home.” So the people took provisions in their hands, and their trumpets. And he sent all the rest of Israel every man to his tent, but retained the 300 men. And the camp of Midian was below him in the valley.

Reflection: What is one area of your life where you feel especially weak or outnumbered right now? How might you invite God to meet you in that very place today?

Day 2: God’s Calling Is Not Limited by Our Qualifications

God often calls the least likely people to do the most significant things. Gideon was not the strongest or the bravest; in fact, he doubted himself and questioned God’s plan. Yet, God chose him, knowing all his flaws and fears, to lead Israel to freedom. This shows that God’s call is not based on our background, our strength, or our confidence, but on His purpose and love for us. When we feel unworthy or inadequate, we are in the perfect position for God to use us for something greater than we could imagine. [45:23]

Judges 7:9-15 (ESV)
That same night the LORD said to him, “Arise, go down against the camp, for I have given it into your hand. But if you are afraid to go down, go down to the camp with Purah your servant. And you shall hear what they say, and afterward your hands shall be strengthened to go down against the camp.” Then he went down with Purah his servant to the outposts of the armed men who were in the camp. And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the people of the East lay along the valley like locusts in abundance, and their camels were without number, as the sand that is on the seashore in abundance. When Gideon came, behold, a man was telling a dream to his comrade. And he said, “Behold, I dreamed a dream, and behold, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the camp of Midian and came to the tent and struck it so that it fell and turned it upside down, so that the tent lay flat.” And his comrade answered, “This is no other than the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel; God has given into his hand Midian and all the camp.” As soon as Gideon heard the telling of the dream and its interpretation, he worshiped. And he returned to the camp of Israel and said, “Arise, for the LORD has given the host of Midian into your hand.”

Reflection: Where do you feel unqualified or unworthy to serve God? What is one step of faith you can take today, trusting that God’s call is bigger than your limitations?

Day 3: God Provides Companions for the Journey

God knows our fears and does not expect us to face challenges alone. When Gideon was afraid, God provided Purah to go with him, showing that even the most courageous leaders need support. Sometimes, the most important role is not the one in the spotlight, but the one who stands ready to encourage, pray, and walk alongside another. God calls each of us—whether to lead or to support—and values every role in His kingdom. [54:08]

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV)
Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

Reflection: Who has God placed in your life to support you, or who might need your encouragement today? How can you intentionally reach out to them?

Day 4: God’s Care Is Personal and Tender

God’s calling is not just about accomplishing tasks; it is rooted in His deep care for us. He knows our anxieties, our doubts, and our needs, and He goes out of His way to reassure us—sometimes through unexpected signs, people, or encouragements. Just as God arranged for Gideon to overhear the enemy’s dream and be strengthened, God is attentive to the details of our lives, providing comfort and confirmation when we need it most. [01:01:24]

1 Peter 5:6-7 (ESV)
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Reflection: Recall a time when God showed you care in a personal way. How can you look for and receive His care in your current circumstances?

Day 5: True Strength Comes from Surrender and Relationship

We cannot be strong in Christ until we recognize our own weakness and our need for Him. Building our lives on our own achievements, reputation, or plans will always leave us empty. God created us for relationship with Him, and it is through honest communication—prayer, worship, and surrender—that we find true strength and purpose. When we stop striving to do it all ourselves and instead lean into God’s presence, we discover the fullness of life He intends for us. [01:04:50]

John 15:4-5 (ESV)
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

Reflection: In what ways have you been trying to “do life” on your own? What would it look like to intentionally communicate with God and surrender your plans to Him today?

Sermon Summary

When everything we depend on is stripped away—our jobs, our plans, our sense of control—what remains is the true foundation of our faith. God often meets us not in our strength, but in our weakness, in the places where we feel spent and uncertain. The story of Gideon in Judges 7 is a powerful reminder of this truth. Gideon faced an impossible situation: 300 men against 135,000 Midianite soldiers. By human standards, defeat was certain. Yet God intentionally reduced Gideon's army, not to set him up for failure, but to ensure that the victory could only be attributed to God’s power, not human strength.

God’s ways often defy our logic. He chose the least likely, the “lowest of the low,” to accomplish His purposes. In the kingdom of God, what we see as weakness is actually a blank canvas for God to display His strength and creativity. Gideon’s doubts and fears did not disqualify him; instead, God met him in those very places, providing encouragement and companionship through Purah. This shows that God not only calls us, but He cares for us deeply, providing what we need to take the next step, even when we are afraid.

Our culture often tells us to build our lives on self-sufficiency, but the gospel calls us to a different way: to recognize our need for God and to trust Him with our weaknesses. God’s call is not just for the “Gideons” who lead, but also for the “Purahs” who support and walk alongside. Whether your calling is grand or seemingly small, God’s invitation is the same: to be ready, to be faithful, and to trust that He can do more through your weakness than you could ever do in your own strength.

This is good news for all of us, especially for those who feel weak, uncertain, or on the fence about faith. God’s love is persistent, and His desire is to be in relationship with us, to communicate with us, and to use our lives for something greater than we could imagine. Our weaknesses are not obstacles to God’s work—they are the very places where He loves to show up and do the miraculous.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s Strength Is Perfected in Our Weakness When we feel most inadequate, God’s power is most visible. The story of Gideon shows that God intentionally uses our limitations as the stage for His strength, so that the outcome is unmistakably His doing. Our weaknesses are not liabilities in God’s hands; they are opportunities for Him to reveal His glory. [44:54]
2. Faith Requires Letting Go of Control God reduced Gideon’s army to a fraction of its original size, stripping away every human advantage. True faith often means surrendering our sense of control and trusting God’s plan, even when it seems illogical or risky. The victory God brings is not about our resources, but about our willingness to depend on Him. [40:00]
3. God Calls Both Leaders and Supporters While Gideon is the prominent figure, Purah’s quiet presence was essential. God’s call is not limited to those in the spotlight; He values and uses those who support, encourage, and walk alongside others. In God’s kingdom, every role—visible or hidden—matters deeply, and faithfulness in any capacity is honored. [54:43]
4. God’s Care Accompanies His Call God does not just assign us difficult tasks and leave us alone. He provides encouragement, companionship, and reassurance along the way, as He did for Gideon through the dream overheard in the enemy camp. God’s call is always matched by His care, and He meets us in our fear with tangible help. [61:24]
5. Relationship with God Is Sustained by Communication Just as healthy relationships require ongoing communication, so does our relationship with God. When we neglect to communicate with Him, we are left feeling empty and disconnected. God invites us to bring our doubts, fears, and hopes to Him, and in that honest dialogue, He strengthens our faith and guides our steps.

** [65:30]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[14:15] - Opening Praise and Humor
[29:40] - Introduction and Personal Story
[30:09] - Role as Student Pastor
[30:40] - Awakening Among Students
[31:30] - Family Update
[32:07] - Pastor Appreciation
[33:00] - The Stripping Away Question
[33:45] - God Meets Us in Weakness
[34:22] - Gideon’s Challenge and Judges 7 Reading
[38:47] - Gideon’s Task and God’s Unusual Plan
[41:35] - The Odds: 300 vs 135,000
[44:54] - Weakness as God’s Canvas
[49:14] - The Gospel in Brief
[51:28] - God Knows Our Fears
[54:43] - The Importance of Purah
[55:57] - God’s Call Is for Everyone
[56:48] - Faithfulness in the Ordinary
[58:29] - God’s Encouragement Through a Dream
[61:24] - God’s Care in the Call
[63:25] - Good News for the Weak
[65:30] - The Importance of Communication with God
[66:05] - Invitation to Respond
[75:08] - Closing Blessing
[75:35] - Benediction and Sending

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

Judges 7:1-18 (ESV) — (For brevity, please read this passage together in your group. This is the main text for the sermon and study.)

Observation Questions

In Judges 7, how did God reduce Gideon’s army, and what was the final number of men left to fight?
What reason did God give for reducing the size of Gideon’s army?
Who was Purah, and what role did he play in Gideon’s story?
According to the sermon, what kind of people were the 300 men compared to, and why is that significant? [[44:16]]

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think God wanted the victory over the Midianites to be so clearly impossible by human standards? What does this reveal about God’s character? [[40:00]]
The sermon says, “In the kingdom of God, what we see as weakness is actually a blank canvas for God to do amazing things.” How does this idea challenge the way we usually think about our own weaknesses? [[44:54]]
How does the presence of Purah alongside Gideon show us something about the way God cares for us when we are afraid or uncertain? [[54:43]]
The sermon mentions that God’s call is not just for leaders like Gideon, but also for supporters like Purah. What does this mean for how we view our own roles in God’s work? [[55:57]]

Application Questions

The sermon began with the question: “Imagine if God stripped away everything you depend on… what would your faith look like?” What are some things you depend on for security or identity? How would your faith be affected if those things were taken away? [[33:00]]
Can you think of a time when you felt weak, afraid, or unqualified, but God still used you or met you in that place? What happened, and how did it change your view of God? [[45:23]]
The story of Gideon shows that God sometimes asks us to let go of control and trust Him, even when it doesn’t make sense. Is there an area of your life right now where God might be asking you to surrender control? What would it look like to trust Him with that? [[40:00]]
Purah’s role was to walk alongside Gideon and offer support. Who has been a “Purah” in your life—someone who encouraged you when you were afraid? How can you be a Purah for someone else this week? [[54:43]]
The sermon says, “God’s call is always matched by His care.” When have you experienced God’s encouragement or provision right when you needed it? [[01:01:24]]
The importance of communicating with God was highlighted. What does your communication with God look like right now? Is there a specific way you want to grow in prayer or honesty with God this week? [[01:05:30]]
The sermon says, “Our weaknesses are not obstacles to God’s work—they are the very places where He loves to show up and do the miraculous.” What is one weakness or struggle you want to invite God into this week? [[44:54]]

Sermon Clips

Imagine if God stripped away everything you do depend on. Your job, your paycheck, your reputation, your plans, everything that gave you a sense of control. Now, this is a rhetorical question, but what emotions would you feel if all of those things that make you feel safe got taken away from you? You may feel some fear, you may feel some anxiety, you may feel some anger. But even a deeper question. If everything was taken and stripped away from our lives, what would our faith look like? What would our faith look like? But maybe, just maybe, that's exactly where God wants to meet you. Not in the places that you feel strong, but in the places you feel spent, the places you feel weak, the places you feel uncertain. Because it's often in our weakness that his strength finally is able to shine through. [00:33:00] (70 seconds) #FaithInWeakness

In the kingdom of God, what we see as weakness. Weakness is actually a blank canvas for God to do amazing things. I bet you as Gideon was looking at the backs of over 30,000 of the people he thought he would fight with, I imagine he had some doubt, saying, God, are you sure? Thinking God, are you sure? Because in chapter six, we saw Pastor Tim last week. Gideon said, God, I don't know if you want me to do this. You know where I come from, you know my background, you know where we're at right now. I wouldn't be considered strong. But it's in our weakness where God has perfect ground to do what he wants to do. [00:44:58] (51 seconds) #CanvasOfWeakness

But that's the whole point of the gospel, right? We feel weak and we feel like we can't do this Jesus thing on our own. And that's the whole story of scripture. If you were to boil down the Bible to a few sentences, it would be this. God and humanity were together. Then humans got stuck selfish and we were broken apart of our relationship. And it has been selfishness has been baked in to humanity since the beginning of time. And throughout the Old Testament you see God trying to meet and greet and remind his people that God is still God, that his love is legit and that he'll do anything he can to be with his people. [00:49:05] (43 seconds) #WorthinessInWeakness

It's when you stop saying, well, I'm only human, I'm not perfect. Stop saying that. You are shorting Jesus, God, and the Holy Spirit a lot. When you say, I'm just human, no, you were originally made for good. That's why when we worship and we sing, that's why your heart starts to take flight and it gets wings and it starts going and going and it's like, whoa. It's because this was made to worship him. [00:50:47] (32 seconds) #MadeForWorship

God will use us in grand ways and in small ways. Gideon was called to do a big grand thing. Purah was told to just be ready. Be ready now in our perspectives, in our brains and our hearts, because God told Gideon that Gideon would help free the Israelites from the Midianites. We would attribute Gideon to being the most important person of the story. And in the kingdom of God. That's not how that works. Because Gideon would not have gone if it were not for Pyrrha. [00:54:04] (45 seconds) #BigAndSmallCallings

And so God calls Gideon out of a place for this man who has been down on himself, who's been anxious, who is worn out about the situation that him and his people are in. And God says, I'm going to make a way through you. God doesn't just call, he cares. If God is calling you to something, and he is, it's because he cares for you. God's telling you to do something, to stop, something, to be a part of something, to give up, something to take a bold step up of faith. He's telling you that because he cares for you and he knows you're going to be afraid. And when you are, he's going to say, hey, take Pyrrho with you. [01:02:20] (54 seconds) #StrengthInWeakness

``Estel Naz, this story is good news for us. It's really good news. If you're feeling down and out on your faith, the story is for you. If you are feeling as if you are weak, if your faith is weak, if you feel like your faith is kind of flickering off like a dying candle, this is for you. If you've tried to be big and bold and live some big courageous life for just Jesus, but you're still confused, at the end of the day, you feel apart from God, maybe because you are. You cannot be strong friends in Christ until you realize that you are weak without him. And it's in that weakness where God does his best work, especially for our friends who are still on the fence of faith. [01:03:19] (68 seconds) #MoreThanSelf

If you've tried to build your life and your identity off of your career, your ego or your past, and it keeps leaving you high and dry and empty handed. That's because your life is not about just you. God's created you for more. God created you to live with him in relationship. And the important thing about relationships, there's a really big word I've learned especially in one year of marriage, communicating. You can't live without it. You can talk to your you can communicate with your spouse, your kids, your family, your friends, your employer. And you can communicate well in those areas. But friends, if you do not communicate with God, you will be left feeling empty. [01:04:50] (54 seconds) #CommunicateWithGod

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