Nobody likes feeling weak. We all know it. But weakness, vulnerability, and imperfection are an intrinsic part of this mortal journey. There’s no getting out of it. There is, however, great purpose to our experience of profound inadequacy, insufficiency, or weakness.

Weakness may come to us in the form of temptations. Ask anyone and they can readily tell you what temptations they struggle with. Is it a propensity toward anger, gluttony, jealousy, or infidelity? The list is endless of course, and there are infinite shades of weakness that we all struggle with. Not that we will readily admit our struggles. Sometimes we prefer to struggle in silence, or more preferably, anonymously. But no doubt, we all know our own weaknesses. Especially if we’ve lived a few years.

Weakness may rear its head as character flaws. Pride, difficulty hearing others’ perspectives, difficulty voicing our own opinions, difficulty managing our finances or maintaining healthy relationships. I suspect most of us are aware of some of our weaknesses in these areas, too. Of course, there’s some we may overlook, ignorantly or willfully, but eventually, given enough time, our attention will be drawn to these areas of potential improvement, willing or not.

We may find our bodies to be weak. Perhaps we bear the burden of birth defects, genetic disorders, or health conditions. Even if we are strong in youth, we will find our bodies betraying us, slowing down, aching and changing as we age.

Perhaps we’ve encountered weakness when we discover we lack knowledge or have little opportunity to learn. Or maybe we struggle with limited intellectual capacity even when given extra help. Another form of weakness is a lack of confidence despite having multitudes of gifts. If we haven’t experienced this one, we surely know someone who has.

Weakness can be found following harmful experiences that cause lingering hurt, fear, or insecurity. It can be found in mental health struggles, faith struggles, and struggles with guilt or shame.

In short, weakness is everywhere. And if you’re too young or too gifted to experience it yet, don’t worry, you will.

So what do we do? We are saddled with a host of weaknesses, raised by imperfect parents within flawed societies and then told “Be ye therefore perfect, even as I, or my Father in Heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).

Hmmm. That’s a quandary, isn’t it?

What to Do When We Feel Weak

Recognize the Truth About Weakness

Paul claims in 2 Corinthians 12:10: “…when I am weak, then am I strong.” How is it that when we are weak, we are strong? How in the world does that work? I don’t know about you, but when I am weak, I often feel…weak.

What’s going on here?

“Weakness doesn’t make someone weak, you see. It’s the opposite.” That’s a quote from Brandon Sanderson in Rhythm of War. I bet you didn’t expect to find a quote from a fantasy author in this how-to post. This just illustrates how pervasive the struggle with weakness is and how we sometimes misinterpret our own weakness as something terrible, shameful, or dangerous. But Sanderson is right, weakness does not make us weak. It makes us strong, even if we don’t feel that way at the moment.

“Who is the strongest of mind?” Sanderson asks via a character in his story, “The woman whose emotions are always on her side? Or the woman whose own thoughts betray her? You have fought this fight every day of your life…And you are not weak” (Rhythm of War by Brandon Sanderson).

It’s true, if someone has a weakness with emotions or mental health and has to battle that every day, an iron core of discipline and strength emerges, as long as we persevere, and with the help of God. This applies to weakness in other parts of life, too.

Not too long ago one of my kids struggled to pass the drivers’ permit test. It was frustrating, discouraging, and took lots of persistence and determination to finally pass it. I see this as a perfect example of how weakness (the struggle to pass the test) yielded strength (persistence, determination, and ultimately, confidence).

Through our weaknesses, we are granted incredible opportunity to grow.

“And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them” (Ether 12:27).

Our weakness exists for good reason, to help us learn and grow. Weakness also humbles us and reminds us that we can turn to God. His grace is sufficient and He will make us strong.

Rely on Christ

Quoting Paul again, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.

What a refreshing example Paul is. He takes pleasure in reproaches and distresses. Wow. I was discussing this idea with a friend recently and she said that when she’s facing a trial, she’s learned to consider what she needs to learn or how she needs to grow. What an incredible way to open ourselves to further growth. And when we take that question to God in humility, not only does He help us through our difficult time and help us through the weakness we are enduring, but he changes us. He sanctifies us.

He also lets us know we are not alone.

We may think to cry out like David of old, “Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long?” (Psalm 6:2-3).

And sometimes our weakness, our struggle, is not taken away. But we are given comfort and the strength to bear it.

“Behold, and hearken…saith the Lord your God, even Jesus Christ, your advocate, who knoweth the weakness of man and how to succor them who are tempted” (Doctrine & Covenants 62:1).

Tad R. Callister explains, “In summary, the Savior’s Atonement gives us life for death, “beauty for ashes,” healing for hurt, and perfection for weakness. It is heaven’s antidote to the obstacles and struggles of this world” (The Atonement of Jesus Christ by Tad. R. Callister).

Nurture Your Faith

In Hebrews 11, we read example after example of how faith has changed circumstances great and small, how faith is an incredible power that yields incredible strength.

“…for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong” (Hebrews 11: 32-34).

Juan Pablo Villar explains how developing faith is like exercising our spiritual muscles. “This is a long-distance race, a marathon, rather than a sprint, so do not forget those small but constant spiritual activities that will strengthen those important spiritual muscles. If we want to increase our faith, then let’s do things that require faith” (Exercising Our Spiritual Muscles by Juan Pablo Villar).

In the most recent General Conference of The Church of Jesus Christ, President Russell M. Nelson taught that “faith in Jesus Christ is the greatest power available to us in this life.” He also outlined ways to strengthen our faith:

1. Study
2. Choose to believe
3. Act in faith
4. Partake of sacred ordinances worthily
5. Ask your Heavenly Father, in the name of Jesus Chris, for help.

As we nurture our faith, we will find we develop strength to bear our weaknesses and face our struggles. We will start to understand how our weakness is a critical part of the refining and transformative process in our lives. And, at some point, we may even feel grateful for the challenges that shape us.

How to Help When Others Experience Weakness

I’m going to share some scripture that illustrate how we can help when others are in the midst of struggles or are feeling weak. We cannot always relieve others of their burdens. Nor would we want to deprive them of their opportunity to learn and grow, no matter how much compassion and empathy we may feel for their pain.

Nevertheless, we can provide comfort, the strength of loving support, and a sense of hope and community.

“Succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees” (Doctrine & Covenants 81:5).

3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.
4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you.
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.
7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes.
8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:3-10).

We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. (Romans 15:1).

I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. (Acts 20:35).

Practical Steps You CAN Take

1. Recognize that we all experience weakness. It is an essential part of this mortal existence.
2. Recognize that while weakness comes in many forms, it always brings with it the opportunity to grow and transform and become strong in some other way.
3. Rely on the Savior for comfort, healing, strength, and refinement amid your struggles with weakness.
4. Trust that God will help and sustain you.
5. Be willing to be humble, to turn to God with a willing heart. Consider what you can learn and how you can grow.
6. Nurture your faith. Exercise your spiritual muscles and follow President Nelson’s suggestions for developing faith
7. Remember to support others in their struggles with weakness.

Thought to consider: Reflect and identify ways you’ve grown and developed strength as a direct result of weakness in your life.