The Beauty of Weakness

Back in the 1996 Masters golf tournament, Greg Norman had one of the more embarrassing experiences an athlete has ever suffered. After three rounds, he had a virtually insurmountable, six-stroke lead. If he played eighteen more holes of just average golf, he would win the Masters and take possession of the coveted green jacket. The next day, however, the bottom fell out for Greg Norman. On the fourth and final round of the tournament he shot a 6 over par, 78. Nick Faldo shot a 67 that day and ended up winning the tournament by five strokes.

However, Greg Norman’s big time “choke” ended up being one of the most positive events in his life. After the debacle, he says he experienced the most touching few days of his life. People from all over the world contacted him with words of encouragement. The mail ran four times the volume of what Norman received when he won the British Open in 1993.

“It’s changed my total outlook on life and on people,” Norman said of his defeat. “There’s no need to be cynical anymore. My wife said to me, ‘You know, maybe this is better than winning the green jacket. Maybe now you understand the importance of it all.’ I never thought I could reach out and touch people like that. And the extraordinary thing is that I did it by losing.”

Friends, Greg Norman learned an important lesson that the Bible clearly affirms: Our weaknesses can bring joy and beauty into our lives. Because his “failure” was viewed by millions of people on television, there was no way Norman could hide it from others. His experience reminds us that if we are willing to admit our weaknesses and not try to pretend we have no problems, other people are likely to be more sympathetic toward us. Many folks are intimidated by (and perhaps envious of) the individual who always seems to be a “winner.” Yes, sometimes when we allow other people to see our flaws, they will take advantage of that and try to use it for their own benefit. This can make life more difficult for us. Yet, I believe it is more likely that an honest acknowledgment of our weaknesses will open doors that can provide opportunities for us to build and grow better relationships with others.

Admitting our weaknesses also enables us to grow closer to God. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 the Apostle Paul writes, “The Lord 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” Those who believe they are always “winners” and think they are strong enough to succeed in whatever situation they face, seldom have a reason to turn to the Lord for help. Only when we realize that we are weak and in desperate need of God’s grace and forgiveness through Jesus, are we able to experience them in our lives. The Bible does not say that God helps those who help themselves. Rather, He helps those who know they are weak, who seek to find their strength and joy in Him, and who truly trust in the Lord Jesus. When we turn to the Lord, those of us who know we are weak, can truly be strong.