The case from Scripture is pretty clear. You can re-read the first paragraph of this post or cruise through your newsfeed for examples from modern culture. How about a historical example? What is the defining characteristic of the United States? Freedom. What do terrorist groups hate so much that they long to bring us to our knees? Freedom. Put it all together, and the old Chinese adage rings true: “An unguarded strength is a double weakness.”
Preparing for Pitfalls
If these things are true, then we have to ask—as women, as wives, as mothers, as teachers, as mentors—is it ever wise to say, “I would never … “?
Chances are good that the majority of people in those early examples of falling to temptation would have put themselves in the “Never” category. Some actually did!
When I read my Bible, just one page before Peter’s first, second and third denial of Christ, he’s confidently proclaiming before Christ Himself, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33).
And within a day, he’s afraid to speak the name of Jesus before a little girl (v. 56)? If Peter, “the rock,” is vulnerable to falling on the sword of his strength, then guess what? I am too. And so are you.
So instead of looking for our weaknesses and then searching for the best self-help Christian book or blog post to overcome them, a different tactic might be needed in the battle against sin and self. For instance, as women, what are some of our more natural strengths?
- The propensity to be relational.
- The ability to multitask.
- The innate desire to nurture.
- Mama-bear love for our children.
- The desire to be attractive to our husbands or potential husbands.
Yet when perusing that list, it doesn’t take long to see how any one of those strengths can become the pit of our destruction:
- When our ability to be “relational” invites intimacy where it doesn’t belong.
- When we multitask ourselves out of giving undivided attention to our spouse or family members.
- When our desire to nurture becomes a people-pleasing monster.
- When Mama-bear raises sons who are incapable of taking care of themselves.
- When our desire to be outwardly attractive becomes a bondage to beauty in the form of obsession, eating disorders and discontent.
These are characteristics that are God-given and wonderful, but we are also playing with fire. As quickly as we become enveloped in its warmth, it can become all-consuming.
On an individual level, admittedly, it can be hard to pinpoint our own greatest asset, so I asked my husband the other night, “What do you see as my biggest area of strength?” After a long pause (a little too long for my comfort, frankly!), he said, “Probably your ability to communicate or your desire to do what’s right.” Both good things, correct? But both are areas in which I need to exercise great caution.
I need to acknowledge that my words can slice and dice as aptly as they can build and encourage. I need to make sure that my desire to do what is “right” in my eyes is not done at the expense of my husband’s leadership. These are tricky issues and fine lines, but ones which we cannot ignore.
Beware of the Undercurrent
In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers summed it up this way:
We are apt to say, “It is not at all likely that having been through the greatest crisis of my life I would now turn back to the things of the world.” Do not try to predict where the temptation will come; it is the least likely thing that is the real danger. It is in the aftermath of a great spiritual event that the least likely things begin to have an effect. They may not be forceful and dominant, but they are there. And if you are not careful to be forewarned, they will trip you.
You have remained true to God under great and intense trials—now beware of the undercurrent. Do not be abnormally examining your inner self, looking forward with dread, but stay alert; keep your memory sharp before God. Unguarded strength is actually a double weakness, because that is where the least likely temptations will be effective in sapping strength. The Bible characters stumbled over their strong points, never their weak ones.
“Kept by the power of God”—that is the only safety (1 Pet. 1:5).
Never say never, dear sister in Christ. Beware, but do not be afraid. Be guarded; stay alert.
How about you? What do you think is your greatest strength, and how might that be used to your detriment? What would others say about you? Ask someone today, and make it a matter of prayer going forward. {eoa}
Copyright © 2001-2016 Revive Our Hearts. Natives of Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula, Laura Elliott and her husband, Michael, endeavor to serve the Lord with gladness in Minnesota as they raise five sons and one daughter, while ministering at Chisago Lakes Baptist Church and School, where Michael serves as the school’s administrator. Laura’s passions include words, music and encouraging women to pursue the God of Scripture in every season of life. In her so-called free time, you might find Laura cooking (or watching Food Network) at home in North Branch.
Janet Perez Eckles 
Shawn Akers 
Abby Trivett