It isn't a Sin to be Weak by Wendy Ulrich

It isn't a Sin to be Weak by Wendy Ulrich

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/2015/04/it-isnt-a-sin-to-be-weak?lang=eng

This is one of the BEST READS about the subject.   I studied it extensively and love every word.   Immediately after I had researched and studied about weakness, a person got up and read this scripture in our Temple Training meeting.   I am convinced that it was no accident that particular scripture was given at that time for me, as I had been studying about it and learning about it.    It was a confirmation to me that Heavenly Father knew that I was concerned about the subject and was seeking answers etc....

“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” (Ether 12:27; see also 1 Corinthians 15:42–44; 2 Corinthians 12:7–10; 2 Nephi 3:21; and Jacob 4:7).

“Am I really worthy to enter God’s house? How can I be if I’m not perfect?”

“Can God really make my weakness into a strength? I’ve fasted and prayed for days to have this problem removed from me, but nothing seems to change.”

“In the mission field I lived the gospel more consistently than at any time in my life, but I have never been more aware of my shortcomings. Why, when I was being so good, did I sometimes feel so bad?”

As we ponder such questions, it is crucial to understand that while sin inevitably leads us away from God, weakness, ironically, can lead us toward Him.

Distinguishing Sin and Weakness

	Sin	Weakness
Definition?	Willful disobedience to God	Human limitation, infirmity
Source?	Encouraged by Satan	Part of our mortal nature
Examples?	Knowingly breaking God’s commandments, believing Satan over God	Susceptibility to temptation, emotion, fatigue, physical or mental illness, ignorance, predispositions, trauma, death
Did Jesus have?	No	Yes
Our response should be?	Repentance	Humility, faith in Christ, and efforts to overcome
God’s response in turn?	Forgiveness	Grace—an enabling power
Which results in?	Being cleansed from sin	Acquiring holiness, strength

Exercising Humility and Faith

• Ponder and pray. Because we are weak, we may not recognize if we are dealing with sin (calling for an immediate and pervasive change of mind, heart, and behavior) or with weakness (calling for humble, sustained effort, learning, and improvement). How we view these things can depend on our upbringing and maturity. There may even be elements of both sin and weakness in a single behavior. Saying a sin is really a weakness leads to rationalizing instead of repenting. Saying a weakness is a sin can result in shame, blame, despair, and giving up on God’s promises. Pondering and praying help us make these distinctions.

• Prioritize. Because we are weak, we cannot make every needed change all at once. As we humbly and faithfully tackle our human weakness a few aspects at a time, we can gradually reduce ignorance, make good patterns habitual, increase our physical and emotional health and stamina, and strengthen our trust in the Lord. God can help us know where to begin.

• Plan. Because we are weak, getting stronger will require more than a righteous desire and lots of self-discipline. We also need to plan, learn from mistakes, develop more effective strategies, revise our plans, and try again. We need help from scriptures, relevant books, and other people. We start small, rejoice in improvement, and take risks (even though they make us feel vulnerable and weak). We need supports to help us make good choices even when we are tired or discouraged and plans for getting back on track when we slip.

• Exercise patience. Because we are weak, change may take time. We don’t just renounce our weakness the way we renounce sin. Humble disciples willingly do what’s required, learn resilience, keep trying, and do not give up. Humility helps us have patience with ourselves and with others who are weak too. Patience is a manifestation of our faith in the Lord, gratitude for His confidence in us, and trust in His promises.

Distinguishing Constructive Guilt (Godly Sorrow) and Humility from the Unhelpful Counterfeit of Shame

Constructive Guilt—Godly Sorrow for Sin	Faith and Humility—Christlike Meekness in Weakness	Destructive Shame—Unhelpful Counterfeit
We tend to: Feel remorse for violating our moral code. Repent, changing our mind, heart, behavior. Be open, confess our wrongs, make repairs. Grow and learn. See ourselves as inherently good, of worth. Desire to align our behavior with our positive self-image. Trust fully in the redemptive power of the Atonement of Christ.	We tend to: Feel calm assurance and self-acceptance, warts and all. Takes risks to grow and contribute. Take responsibility for errors, desire to improve. Learn from mistakes and try again. Develop a sense of humor and enjoy life and others. See our weakness as giving us common ground with others. Be patient with others’ weaknesses and flaws. Increase in confidence in God’s love and help.	We tend to: Feel worthless, despairing. Try to hide our weaknesses from others. Fear being exposed. Blame others for problems. Avoid risk-taking, seeing failure as humiliating. Compete and compare ourselves with others. Become defensive and stubborn or wishy-washy. Be sarcastic or excessively serious. Become preoccupied with our failings or our superiority. Fear God’s rejection and disgust.