When A Disadvantage Can Be An Advantage

At one time or the other, all of us probably felt at a disadvantage. I’ve felt like that in the past, and I still feel like that in some areas of my life. When it comes to technology, I feel at a disadvantage to my grandchildren. They seem to know way more than I do in this area, but that doesn’t keep me from soaking up as much knowledge about it as I can.

I always laugh when I think about my job as a blogger. If it had been a category in high school, I would have been voted as Least Likely to Start a Blog. Until I get to know you, I’m very quiet. You know, the person you see at parties sitting alone, not saying a word… that’s me. I’m also the person who hated having their picture taken and would run in the other direction or throw my hand up in front of my face if someone brought out a camera. And I lived in a small town with hardly any shopping opportunities and worked in a lumber company.

Those are huge disadvantages if you want to become a blogger who talks about fashion. There were lots of people in the Bible who were at a disadvantage. If anyone was taking bets on who would win the fight between David and Goliath, I’m pretty sure no one picked David. David was not a warrior, wore no armor, and only had a slingshot and a few stones as his weapons, and he was going up against a giant.

Exodus 4:10

¹⁰ Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”

Moses tried to talk the Lord out of using him. Moses was not who most people would have chosen as the person to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. He was not a leader and was not a good speaker.

2 Corinthians 12:5-8

⁵ I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. ⁶ Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, ⁷ or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me.

Paul had a “thorn” in his life that plagued him. We aren’t told what the plague was, but Paul pleaded for the Lord to take it away from him. Paul didn’t plead just once; he pleaded three times to the Lord. Whatever the thorn was, it was given to Paul to keep him humble.

These great men had disadvantages that could have caused them not to step up when the Lord called on them. In truth, their disadvantages were there for God’s advantage. God wouldn’t have gotten the glory if David had been equal to Goliath. When Moses became the leader of the Israelites, he had to lean on the Lord for strength. Then, God got the glory! If Paul didn’t have the “thorn,” he could have become conceited and taken the glory instead of giving it to God.

If you have a disadvantage, no matter how big or small, the Lord can still use you for His glory. Your disadvantage probably isn’t a giant that is 9’9″ tall, but it might seem that it looms that large. Trust the Lord, pick up your sling and five stones, and wait to see where the Lord is sending you.

As for me, I’ll be the person in the back of the room, giving God all the GLORY!

To God Goes The Glory!

Have A Blessed Day!