God’s Power Shines Through My Weakness
By Jessica Brodie
They call it “glossophobia”—fear of public speaking. More than 75 percent of the population has it, which is basically three of every four people, and reactions range from butterflies, discomfort, and dread to full-on panic attacks. Some people say they’re less afraid of death than having to stand up and speak in front of people.
I understand! While I love public speaking now, I was shy as a kid and hated speaking to an audience, let alone another person, though a number of moves and then falling in love with the theater made me do a 180.
If you’re one of the majority whose heart pounds at the prospect of public speaking, take comfort. You’re in good company with one of the most influential, important people in the Bible: the apostle Paul.
Paul did more for the spread of Christianity than nearly any other human. Once an adamant persecutor of the Christian faith, he had a change of heart after he encountered Jesus and became a fervent follower of “the Way.” He wrote most of the books in the New Testament. After his conversion, Paul became one of Christianity’s most influential leaders, spreading the Gospel tirelessly across Asia Minor.
Yet Paul fully admitted he struggled with public speaking, calling himself “weak” and acknowledging many didn’t take him seriously. Some scholars think he might have had a speech impediment (that pesky “thorn in the flesh” he mentions in 2 Corinthians 12). While he later became famous for his speaking zeal, that doesn’t mean he didn’t dread it or work considerably to overcome his fear.
As he wrote to the early church in Corinth, “When I came to you, brothers and sisters, I didn’t come preaching God’s secrets to you like I was an expert in speech or wisdom. I had made up my mind not to think about anything while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and to preach him as crucified. I stood in front of you with weakness, fear, and a lot of shaking. My message and my preaching weren’t presented with convincing wise words but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power. I did this so that your faith might not depend on the wisdom of people but on the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:1-5 CEB).
That’s right: Paul, the Paul, had stage fright. He wasn’t skilled. He stood before people with “weakness, fear, and a lot of shaking.” Given what statistics say about the widespread fear of public speaking, I bet lots of people can relate!
As a follower of Jesus, we are commanded to spread the Gospel. A lot of times that means stepping far outside our comfort zone. It might mean talking to a stranger, offering your testimony to a crowd, going on a foreign mission trip, or taking an unpopular stand. It might mean doing something you downright “hate,” but you know you’ve got to do it anyway. God’s calling, and you can’t say no.
All the excuses in the world spill from your lips: I’m not good enough. It’s not the right time. After I do THIS first. Once I get training.
But remember: God equips the called. And Scripture promises that when we are doing God’s work, the Holy Spirit is the one doing the talking (Luke 12:11-12). All you have to do is surrender, and the Holy Spirit takes over. The Spirit is the one speaking those truths through your mouth. The Spirit is the one touching that stranger with just the right words or gestures.
So if you’re struggling with speaking out for God, take a deep breath and surrender to the Spirit. God uses who He uses, and He’ll use you, too. Not even the mightiest human can stand in God’s way.
Like the sun peeking through the clouds, God’s power always shines through weakness.
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