Weakness and Weaknesses

By Larry Doyle Crenshaw

MeditationsInLight.Blogspot.com

Our inherent weakness is a natural condition

But our weaknesses we create and are owned

But Godly submission will put them in remission

Thr0ugh Christ who, for all our weaknesses, Atoned

We are born so very fragile and weak in many ways.  We do have an innate drive to thrive in most cases, but still we need care and frequent attention throughout our younger years.  However, part of this fragility and weakness continues with us throughout our life. 

We seem subservient to all sorts of unseen but real natural laws and conditions.  We get sick, we bruise when we stumble and fall, and we often succumb to earthly appetites in both mind and body.  These and other related conditions led one ancient prophet to explain, “For the natural man is an enemy to God, and has been from the fall of Adam, and will be, forever and ever, unless he yields to the enticings of the Holy Spirit, and putteth off the natural man and becometh a saint through the atonement of Christ the Lord, and becometh as a child, submissive, meek, humble, patient, full of love, willing to submit to all things which the Lord seeth fit to inflict upon him, even as a child doth submit to his father."  Mosiah 3:19 

In addition to our fallen “natural” status and our weakness derived therefrom, we develop various weaknesses – bad habits, patterns of errant decisions, and other self-defeating behaviors that intensify our already weakened state.  This double-dose of inherent weakness and learned weaknesses are the backdrop of what our Heavenly Father has called the plan of salvation. 

This plan calls for us to attend this earthly school for 80 + years learning to apply various Godly strategies for overcoming both our natural weakness and our learned weaknesses.  These strategies, called commandments, when applied through covenants and ordinances, move us in our daily life ever closer to our divine destination where we will have overcome all.  For our meditation proclaims…

By His Atonement we may overcome all impairments

Both our weakness and weaknesses can be defeated

As we conquer Satan’s schemes and ensnarements

Having overcome all when our schooling is completed

Weakness and Weaknesses

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.  Behold, I will show unto the Gentiles their weakness, and I will show unto them that faith, hope and charity bringeth unto me—the fountain of all righteousness.

Book of Mormon Ether 12:27-28 and New Testament Matthew 26:41

Because of Adam’s fall we inherit a basic weakness

A condition intrinsic to the nature of mortal man

Enabling us to experience humility and meekness

If we are faithful and obedient to salvation’s plan

Because of weakness, weaknesses may develop

Created by bad habits and errant decisions

Which threaten to overwhelm and envelop

In a web of painful encounters and collisions

Our inherent weakness is a natural condition

But our weaknesses we create and are owned

But Godly submission will put them in remission

Thr0ugh Christ who, for all our weaknesses, Atoned

By His Atonement we may overcome all impairments

Both our weakness and weaknesses can be defeated

As we surmount Satan’s schemes and ensnarements

Having overcome all when our schooling is completed

Therefore, let us drink from His Fountain of Righteousness

That which makes weak things become mighty and strong

For His Atonement will overcome weaknesses and weakness

With grace sufficient to bear us heavenward where we belong

Larry Doyle Crenshaw