Weakness. Normally this is a word that we shy away from. I mean, aren’t we supposed to be talking about how we can get stronger in our faith or something? What do our weaknesses have to do with anything?
Weaknesses are things that set us back. They hinder us. They cripple us from reaching our full potential. The sad thing is, most of the time our weaknesses are our own fault. We choose to wallow in the weakness instead of run towards the solution. And if we never identify what exactly our weaknesses are, then how can we know what the solution is that we need to run to? Call me crazy, but that kind of makes sense!
So how do we identify our weaknesses? Now it is time to grab your journal, a spare notebook, or a scrap sheet of paper. Write down what takes up most of your time. Here is a list to help get you started:
- School
- Homework
- Working out
- Hanging out with friends
- Time on the computer (Facebook, Myspace, surfing the ‘net, etc.)
- Picking out my outfit for school tomorrow
- Talking on the phone
- Texting my friends
- Jamming to music in my car as I drive to school
- Sleeping
- Eating
- Going to Starbucks
OK, so that is a basic list of what a teen girl may do throughout a single day. I know that there is a whole lot more that we do, but I will let you fill in the blanks. After you have identified what takes up your time, look over your list for a couple minutes. What do you do a LOT or more than anything else? Do you text 24/7 and have a phone bill out the roof or do you work out after school for like five hours to get that perfect body (I know that is extreme, but ya never know!)? After looking at what takes first place over your time, you can identify what one of your “weaknesses” is. Now does this mean that it is necessarily a bad thing–NOPE! Hanging with friends and eating are amazing things that God create for our enjoyment. The “weakness” part comes into play when it distracts us from pursuing our relationship with God and fulfilling our God-given destinies.
Here are a couple “weakness” examples:
Friends
It is so easy to get caught up in the world of “popularity.” I mean, who doesn’t want to fit in and be liked and appreciated? I know that I definitely want to have friends and I want to be invited to things. The only danger comes when I become obsessed with friends. It is extremely easy to get caught up in it all too–and it isn’t necessarily bad to enjoy good friendships, but when they rule your heart that is when you need to take a reality check.
We all like to have nice things and to go out with friends to the movies and restaurants. Have you ever heard the phrase “Everything in life has a price tag”? Well, sadly that is true. (I kinda wish clothes were free because that would be awesome, but that is besides the point!) When we become obsessed with gaining money and hoarding it all for ourselves we have entered a dangerous path.
Relationships God created relationships with the opposite sex for our enjoyment! He wants us to have fun and discover who that “special someone” is. But He wants us to seek Him first in those relationships. Once again, it is so easy to get caught up in the rush or the drama of “who likes who” and “who likes me”, but as one of my favorite quotes says, “Run to Jesus and see who is trying to catch up with you.” So don’t run after the guy–run after your Lord!
Body Image 
Food“But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33
