Not Despised
God's strength is available to us even in our weakness, and He will not despise our infirmities.
Mary Wilder Tileston preaches about finding strength in God when our flesh and heart fail, emphasizing that God is our eternal portion and source of strength. She encourages making allowances for physical infirmities and heaviness, reminding that Christian life is a principle, not just a feeling. Tileston urges believers to bring their struggles and weaknesses to Christ, who understands and cares for us like a tender-hearted surgeon for a lame child.
Text
My flesh and my heart faileth; but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
PSALMS 73:26
O, LITTLE heart of mine! shall pain
Or sorrow make thee moan,
When all this God is all for thee,
A Father and thine own?
FRUERICK W. FABER
MAKE allowance for infirmities of the flesh, which are purely physical. To be fatigued, body and soul, is not sin; to be in "heaviness" is not sin. Christian life is not a feeling; it is a principle: when your hearts will not fly, let them go, and if they "will neither fly nor go," be sorry for them and patient with them, and take them to Christ, as you would carry your little lame child to a tender-hearted, skilful surgeon. Does the surgeon, in such a case, upbraid the child for being lame?
ELIZABETH PRENTISS
When you feel ill and indisposed, and when in this condition your prayer is cold, heavy, filled with despondency, and even despair, do not be disheartened or despairing, for the Lord knows your sick and painful condition. Struggle against your infirmity, pray as much as you have strength to, and the Lord will not despise the infirmity of your flesh and spirit.
FATHER JOHN
Sermon Outline
- God's Strength in Our Weakness
- Taking Our Weakness to Christ
- God Does Not Despise Our Weakness
- The Lord knows our condition
- He will not despise our infirmity
Key Quotes
“When all this God is all for thee, A Father and thine own?” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“Does the surgeon, in such a case, upbraid the child for being lame?” — Mary Wilder Tileston
“The Lord knows your sick and painful condition.” — Mary Wilder Tileston
Application Points
- We should be patient with our infirmities and not let them control our actions and decisions.
- We should struggle against our infirmities and pray as much as we have strength to.
- We can trust that God knows our condition and will not despise our weakness.