The Purpose of Weakness
In James 1:2, we are called by Jesus to “count it all joy,” to be happy about, to be thankful for the hard times, for the “thorn in the flesh” (I Cor. 12:7) of trials and temptations. God doesn’t simply call us to do these things, He allows them for our own good.
First, we see in James that the testing and trying of our faith (the thorns in the flesh) leads us into learning patience, which will help us to move toward becoming better Christians and being more “complete” (1:4).
John 15:4 tells us that the branch (Believers) that bear much fruit are pruned (cut and trimmed) so that they can bear more fruit. Naturally that cutting is painful, but in the end the branch will bear more fruit than the first time around.
Second, Paul tells us that in the hard times we learn how weak we really are and where true strength is found: beyond us and in a benevolent King.
God tells Paul “My grace is sufficient…It is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9). God was in essence telling Paul, “Yes, I know it hurts, I know that it is hard, but I have the strength you need to get through this. I want you to come to me every day and I will get you through this, together, I promise. Trust Me, and when this is through you will be more complete in Me.”
Editors of an online program to help habitual sinners escape from their addictions, Mike Cleveland and Shon Bruellman say this on the fact of being dealing with vicious temptations and lusts, starting with a difficult question:
"'Why am I this way?' but instead to say 'THANK YOU GOD for the weaknesses of my flesh!' because your weakness shows you the need for daily grace and fellowship with the Holy Spirit, and it will lead to a thankful heart toward Jesus for setting you free from the power of those sins through the cross."
Jesus Himself prayed to God in John 17:15 and said, "I do not pray that You should take them (followers of Christ) out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one." Jesus doesn't want us to be taken out of this world, because in it is where we will learn more about Him, draw closer to Him, and bring Him the glory as God.
In the end, we must simply trust in God as David says in Psalm 55:22, "Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you." God doesn't expect you to go through this alone, but He does expect you to come to Him with your troubles and tell Him all about it.
"Count it all joy" when you struggle, give God the glory, and thank Him for the opportunity to learn to trust Him more fully and to grow more "complete" in Him.
