From the Introduction to The Edge
Welcome to “the edge.” I live here. Teetering on the precipice, always a step from danger, I do my balancing act. Often tired and weak, I tap in to divine energy—dancing with delight and enjoying a “cutting-edge” to win.
My struggle has always been that wherever I go, there I am. I polished the art of blaming others, but when my excuses ran out, I had to look in the mirror and admit—I was the problem. As someone observed, “If I could kick my worst enemy in the seat of the pants, I wouldn’t be able to sit down for a week.” That’s me.
I was always hoping others would applaud my strengths. Some did but not for long. My weaknesses—faults, flaws, and inadequacies—were like the “sharp edge of a blade,” cutting into my fragile sense of worth, leaving me disappointed, wounded, and bleeding. No, I was never a drug user, compulsive gambler, hatemonger, inside-trader, or murderer. Instead, manipulating and conniving to get my way, gluttony, resentment, hypocrisy, self-centeredness, out-of-control compulsiveness, and perfectionism derailed me over and over again. I lived with nagging self-disappointment.
Unchecked, my weaknesses could have led me to “the edge of ruin.” I have often wondered what my life would be like if I hadn’t been arrested by Christ. I surmise I’d be working in the business world, married three or four times, addicted to who knows what, having children who wouldn’t even talk to me, and burned out on life—that is, if I were still alive. A greater likelihood is that I would have died in my fifties like my father and grandfather.
Through the process of experiencing brokenness and discovering the power of Christ in my weaknesses, my life today is filled with the “cutting-edge” of vigor and energy and “the sharpened-edge” of intense desire. My weaknesses have become “power points” to the glory of God.
Weaknesses empowered by God are a winner’s edge, a distinct advantage. Paul, a radically reshaped man, leveraged “the edge.” Coming to terms with an agonizing weakness, Paul heard the Lord say, My power is strongest when you are weak (2 Cor. 12:9 CEV). Paul discovered the power-edge—the favorable margin to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. His mantra: When I am weak, I am strong (v. 10).
Living “the edge” is changing my life, and it will do the same for you. Come join me in the pursuit of the “winning-edge”—God’s strength in weakness.
- Dave Beckwith
My struggle has always been that wherever I go, there I am. I polished the art of blaming others, but when my excuses ran out, I had to look in the mirror and admit—I was the problem. As someone observed, “If I could kick my worst enemy in the seat of the pants, I wouldn’t be able to sit down for a week.” That’s me.
I was always hoping others would applaud my strengths. Some did but not for long. My weaknesses—faults, flaws, and inadequacies—were like the “sharp edge of a blade,” cutting into my fragile sense of worth, leaving me disappointed, wounded, and bleeding. No, I was never a drug user, compulsive gambler, hatemonger, inside-trader, or murderer. Instead, manipulating and conniving to get my way, gluttony, resentment, hypocrisy, self-centeredness, out-of-control compulsiveness, and perfectionism derailed me over and over again. I lived with nagging self-disappointment.
Unchecked, my weaknesses could have led me to “the edge of ruin.” I have often wondered what my life would be like if I hadn’t been arrested by Christ. I surmise I’d be working in the business world, married three or four times, addicted to who knows what, having children who wouldn’t even talk to me, and burned out on life—that is, if I were still alive. A greater likelihood is that I would have died in my fifties like my father and grandfather.
Through the process of experiencing brokenness and discovering the power of Christ in my weaknesses, my life today is filled with the “cutting-edge” of vigor and energy and “the sharpened-edge” of intense desire. My weaknesses have become “power points” to the glory of God.
Weaknesses empowered by God are a winner’s edge, a distinct advantage. Paul, a radically reshaped man, leveraged “the edge.” Coming to terms with an agonizing weakness, Paul heard the Lord say, My power is strongest when you are weak (2 Cor. 12:9 CEV). Paul discovered the power-edge—the favorable margin to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles. His mantra: When I am weak, I am strong (v. 10).
Living “the edge” is changing my life, and it will do the same for you. Come join me in the pursuit of the “winning-edge”—God’s strength in weakness.
- Dave Beckwith
From Chapter Two ...
WHY DID GOD DESIGN ME WITH WEAKNESSES?
A great weakness is a pretense of strength; a great strength is a humble acknowledgement of weakness.
God could easily have designed us so every year we grow stronger, better-looking, sexier, and healthier. It would have been easy for the Creator to pre-program us with steadily improving eyesight, hearing, and sense of smell while our teeth became whiter and our hair thicker. The young would aspire to get old. The old would get some respect. “Don’t mess with him. He’s a 125-year-old hunk, and he’ll clean your clock.” Just imagine having your photo taken every year to place it next to last year’s photo as you congratulate yourself, Wow, I’m getting better-looking every day.
Obviously God designed the program to operate in reverse. Every year our physical bodies develop new aches, and something that worked fine last year now sputters. Yes, we’re weak and getting weaker. Why? God is clearly up to something but before getting into the why, let’s examine the four types of weaknesses: personal limitations, personal woundedness, personal sin bent, and personal weakness from the misuse of strengths.
Four Types of Weaknesses
To be successful, many think they need to impress others with their strengths and make certain no one discovers their flat side. But as strange as it sounds, admitting we’re weak, frail human beings is the first step toward becoming strong. A great weakness is a pretense of strength; a great strength is a humble acknowledgement of weakness. The fear of appearing weak is a weakness. As you identify your weaknesses in this section, you are taking the first steps to launch God’s power in a new way in your life. Let’s look at the four types of weaknesses.
God could easily have designed us so every year we grow stronger, better-looking, sexier, and healthier. It would have been easy for the Creator to pre-program us with steadily improving eyesight, hearing, and sense of smell while our teeth became whiter and our hair thicker. The young would aspire to get old. The old would get some respect. “Don’t mess with him. He’s a 125-year-old hunk, and he’ll clean your clock.” Just imagine having your photo taken every year to place it next to last year’s photo as you congratulate yourself, Wow, I’m getting better-looking every day.
Obviously God designed the program to operate in reverse. Every year our physical bodies develop new aches, and something that worked fine last year now sputters. Yes, we’re weak and getting weaker. Why? God is clearly up to something but before getting into the why, let’s examine the four types of weaknesses: personal limitations, personal woundedness, personal sin bent, and personal weakness from the misuse of strengths.
Four Types of Weaknesses
To be successful, many think they need to impress others with their strengths and make certain no one discovers their flat side. But as strange as it sounds, admitting we’re weak, frail human beings is the first step toward becoming strong. A great weakness is a pretense of strength; a great strength is a humble acknowledgement of weakness. The fear of appearing weak is a weakness. As you identify your weaknesses in this section, you are taking the first steps to launch God’s power in a new way in your life. Let’s look at the four types of weaknesses.