Being a short person has its advantages and disadvantages...actually, scratch that. It only has disadvantages (unless we live in an apocalyptic world of rubble where the best hiding spots from the prying eyes of zombies tend to be deep crawl spaces and caves, then I could lend an ear to the advantage argument). I have had to find very creative ways of getting things from the top shelf in the kitchen, I get to ask people in stores for help reaching certain products on vertically challenging shelves, and I have had to find a woman who is short herself and gets to hear me whine when she wants to wear heels (sorry!).
Beyond that, I have always seen guys around me as luckier, and stronger, than me, with longer torsos and more chance for more muscle weight. I know that sounds trivial, but when your rib cage meets your hips a mere inch or two apart, all hopes for a six-pack of abs go out the window. And I've learned to be decently ok with my looks (notwithstanding the occasional woe is I moment), but I've always wished I had other guys' height and strength.
"If only I had that dude's strength, I would be so much better at hockey." Or, "if only I had that guy's arms, I could drive the golf ball further." And finally, my favorite, "I hate being this weak and short because that store's clothes are too long and I can't fill them out!" All of my complaints are centered around physical prowess and looks. Never once have I thought to myself, "if only I had that guy's self control, I wouldn't have as much a problem with lust," or "if only I had that guy's compassion, I would care more for another human's plight." But we have better than another man's strength living in us.
All of that to say this. As a follower and a child of God, I literally have the strength of the Holy Spirit inside me. Christ had strength aplenty, and he was a man like me, but the difference is that he also was God! I have that Spirit living in me, the Spirit of power over temptation and sin, a strength and an ability now to say no to the things of this world that for so long had a hold on me. I don't have to live in filth and depravity, a slave to my weakness in sin. Although that part of me will continue to battle with the new creation I am in Christ through the Spirit, something has changed.
It is when we are able to lean on Christ in that moment of temptation and despair when we are barely able to get out the words "I can't do it alone" that He is brought glory. When we look back at the moments we were at wit's end and had nothing to hold onto on the edge of the cliff of sin that His hand reached out and pulled us the rest of the way, then we'll know that He is glorified and we can hopefully point others back to the perfect strength of the Living God in us.
"'My grace is all you need. My power works best in
weakness.' So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the
power of Christ can work through me." 2 Corinthians 2:19
