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In the last blog, we saw John Newton’s six reasons that God allows His children to continually struggle in a broken world. Knowing those reasons gives us hope to trust God even in our frailty. Through our struggle, we are continually reminded of our inability apart from Him.

“Since the radical powers of the soul are thus enfeebled and disordered, it is not to be wondered at, that the best of men, and under their highest attainments, have found cause to make the acknowledgment of the apostle, ‘When I would do good, evil is present with me.’ ”

But, having given his reasons, Newton returns to one of them, knowing it stands apart from the others in revealing the heart of God towards His children.

The struggle with our own weaknesses drives us continually to depend on Christ, who is our life (Colossians 3:4).

“But, blessed be God, though we must feel hourly cause for shame and humiliation for what we are in ourselves, we have cause to rejoice continually in Christ Jesus, who, as he is revealed unto us under the various names, characters, relations, and offices, which he bears in the Scripture, holds out to our faith a balm for every wound, a cordial for every discouragement, and a sufficient answer to every objection which sin or Satan can suggest against our peace. If we are guilty, he is our righteousness; if we are sick, he is our infallible Physician; if we are weak, helpless, and defenseless, he is the compassionate and faithful Shepherd who has taken charge of us, and will not suffer anything to disappoint our hopes, or to separate us, from his love. He knows our frame, he remembers that we are but dust, and has engaged to guide us by his counsel, support us by his power, and at length to receive us to his glory, that we may be with him forever.”

Difficulties and weaknesses in this life remind us to depend on Christ, so that HE becomes our hope and help.

“Hereby the Lord Jesus Christ is more endeared to the soul; all boasting is effectually excluded, and the glory of a full and free salvation is ascribed to him alone.”

When you feel your weakness, says Newton, let it remind you that you have a Savior who is sufficient, even when you aren’t. Remember Jesus, and worship!