Attributes of God – The God of the Weak

His Holiness Pope Shenouda III speaks in this lecture about the attribute of God as the “God of the weak” and how God chooses the weak to work in them and reveal His glory.

Main idea:
The central message is that God cares especially for the weak, and that the strength of the strong is a gift from God; therefore a person must not boast in his own strength but acknowledge his weakness to ask for God’s power.

Examples from the Holy Bible:
His Holiness cites several stories: David before Goliath, Moses before Pharaoh, David’s stance before Saul, and the stories of the tax collector and the woman caught in sin, and Zacchaeus, and David in the psalms — all are examples that God works in the weak and gives them victory.

Spiritual and practical dimension:
Humility and the acknowledgement of weakness drive a person to continual prayer and reliance on God’s grace. Self-strength produces arrogance and distances one from prayer, while weakness leads to dependence on God and caution against pride.

A call to repentance and prayer:
True repentance is linked to prayer and admitting weakness; continuous prayers and pleading for God’s grace are the “door” to repentance and spiritual change.

Life of service:
In spiritual and practical service one should ask for God’s strength and not rely on our ability; the mother or servant who prays asks for strength from the Lord to serve and change others.

The effect of weakness on the community:
The Church appeared weak before authority and persecution but survived because God stood with the weak; we are called to support the faint-hearted and help the fallen with a spirit of meekness, not condemnation.

Summary and practical call:
Always stand before God as weak, ask Him for strength and grace, avoid self-confidence and arrogance, and work to uphold and help the weak in the Church and society.

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