Strong Enough to be Weak

Where are you in your walk with Jesus? Are you seeking comfort and complacency? Are you allowing the men around you to sharpen you? Are you seeking ways to better yourself? Are you seeking to please man or God? How is your physical health? How’s your mental and spiritual health? Are you being the best husband, father, brother, son, friend or co-worker you can be? Is there more you should be doing in some or all of these areas in your life? Are you allowing the distractions of this world to occupy your thoughts, time, and resources? Where does God want you; what does God want you to do? How are you doing in allowing yourself to become the man God designed you to be?

These are the questions that have been occupying my mental capacity, keeping me up at night, waking me up in the wee hours of the morning, and if I’m being honest, overwhelming me at times. To be honest, life can be messy. There are daily struggles that are real and heavy. Relationships with loved ones that are broken. Parents that are aging, not so gracefully, that need my help. Wife and kids that need my undivided attention, love and leadership. A home and pets that require maintenance and attention. Oh yeah, and a job I am expected to show up for everyday and perform at a high level of productivity and accuracy. This is when isolation seems attractive.

But in times of life described above, when isolation seems to be the the place we want to hide, Romans 12:2 tells us “Do not be conformed to the patterns of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is, His good, pleasing and perfect will.”But how do we do that? It sounds easier said than done. I am here to tell you, you have all the tools to succeed in what the Apostle Paul is telling us in Romans. Later, in Romans 12:9-21 Paul is telling us how we should act and respond to life as Christians. The bottom line is this, if you are in Men’s Alliance you have a tribe of brothers that want to help you with your walk with Jesus, help you with everyday life struggles, pray with you and for you, be there when you call them, to check on you if you miss tribe, and help sharpen you to be the husband, father and leader God designed you to be.

I have been with Men’s Alliance since March 13, 2023 and I have leaned on my brothers in many ways over the years; we don't struggle alone, right? But this most recent season in my life has been tough and heavy. It has taken the support of my wife, friends I have made within MA and some of my Patch 08 brothers to help change my perspective, to know I am supported and to get refocused on the One who can change it all and control it all: Jesus! Before that could happen I had to humble myself, be vulnerable enough to allow my wife and those MA brothers in to see the tough and ugly parts of my life that I was holding in.

In the last few weeks, I have been prayed for, supported, encouraged, given wise counsel, and challenged. The hard things in my life are still there and when those are gone new hard things will replace them. What has changed is my focus, perspective, and the willingness to do the hard things... even when I don't want to. I will do all I can to improve the areas of my life that are within my power and lay at the foot of the cross the things that I can’t, and then I will leave them there. I have been reminded of what the Apostle Paul was saying in 2 Corinthians 12:9 “And He said to me “My grace is sufficient for you, 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.”

I want to encourage you all that when life gets hard, and it will I promise, Jesus said so (John 16:33). DO NOT ISOLATE; lean on your brothers; be strong enough to be humble and vulnerable enough to let your brothers in to help you; be honest and seek wise counsel and know that you belong to a tribe and do not struggle alone. Remember December’s memory verse: Hebrews 12:1-2.

Finish Strong!!

Coop