weak and foolish

God uses the weak and foolish things of this world to confound the strong and powerful

Mother Teresa is one of the best modern examples of the truth of this scripture.  Standing about 4'10", with 5 rupees in her pocket, she left the security of her convent and teaching job to go out in faith on the streets of Calcutta and pick up the sick and dying.  How could she have the courage to do such a thing?

Her eyes were not fixed, as are ours, on her insufficiency, but on the power of God to use the weakest instruments to accomplish His work.  Paul said, "I glory in my infirmities, for when I am weak, Christ is strong in me."  Paul was looking at the crucified man who was entirely submitted to God's plan.  And this submission is not beyond our reach also.  Those of us who have no hope of doing anything at all for God because we see the reality of our lives---unfaithful, chaotic, inconstant, incapable of sustaining initiative or momentum---can commend  the whole mess into His hands, as did Jesus on the cross.

Therese of Lisieux, who was Mother Teresa's patron and role model, acknowledged that she could not climb "the rough stairway of perfection," but like a helpless child, had to stand at the first step and lift her arms to Jesus.  And Jesus, like a tender mother, descended the stairway to carry the child to her desired goal.

Perhaps our greatest obstacle is not our weakness, but our refusal to trust God.