It Has to Be God: When He Chooses the Weak to Show His Strength
Romans 8:31 (NIV):
"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
The God Who Loves Underdogs
I’ve always loved a good underdog story. Whether it’s David facing Goliath, a small church doing big things, or someone with a rough past rising to walk in purpose, God seems to specialise in using the least likely to do the most impactful.
Romans 8:31 is a powerful reminder that when God is for us, it doesn’t matter who or what is against us. But let me tell you something even deeper: God is not just for the strong. He is for the weak. He is for the broken, the unlikely, the overlooked. And not only is He for them, He chooses them on purpose.
God's Strategy: The Foolish to Confound the Wise
There’s a powerful verse in 1 Corinthians 1:27 that says, “But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.”
Now, why would God do that? Why would the Creator of the universe, with all the power in heaven and earth, pick the weakest and most unlikely vessels to carry His glory?
Because when He does, there’s no confusion about where the power came from. People look at the result and say, “That had to be God!”
Biblical Underdogs: God's Pattern
Look through Scripture and you’ll see this over and over again:
Moses had a stutter, but God used him to speak to Pharaoh.
Gideon was hiding in fear, but God called him a mighty warrior.
David was the forgotten shepherd boy, but God made him king.
Mary was a teenage girl, yet she carried the Saviour of the world.
Peter was impulsive and uneducated, yet he preached and thousands were saved.
None of them were chosen because they had it all together. They were chosen because they were willing — and because God wanted the glory.
Real-Life Example: A Weak Start, A Strong God
I once met a young man who had failed every school exam, battled addiction, and was told by many he’d never amount to anything. But one day, Jesus got hold of him. He gave his life to Christ, got baptised, and started growing in the Word.
Today, he leads a ministry that feeds hundreds every week and prays for the sick with boldness. Did he get a degree overnight? No. But what happened was even greater: God put His hand on him.
And now when people look at his life, they say, “That has to be God.” That’s the point. God chooses the weak to showcase His strength.
3 Truths to Encourage the Weak and Willing
1. Your Weakness Doesn’t Disqualify You
In the kingdom of God, weakness is not a problem. It’s a platform. God’s power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). You may feel like you’ve got nothing to offer, but that’s when God says, “Perfect. Now watch what I can do.”
2. God Gets the Glory When You Obey Anyway
When people know your story, your struggles, your past, your flaws and still see you standing, still see you serving, still see fruit from your life, they’re not going to praise you. They’ll glorify God.
3. Your “Yes” is More Important Than Your Ability
God is not looking for the most gifted. He’s looking for the most surrendered. If you can say, “Yes, Lord,” even with trembling hands and a broken heart, God can do more with that than a thousand polished professionals who won’t yield.
Let Them Say, “It Has to Be God”
I believe God wants to raise up a generation of believers whose lives don’t make sense on paper. People who shouldn’t be where they are. People who came from nothing, but are doing kingdom exploits. People who others wrote off, but God wrote in.
Let that be you. Don’t shy away from your weaknesses. Offer them to God. Say, “Lord, if You can use anything, use me.” Then stand back and watch what He’ll do.
Romans 8:31 Means Nothing Can Stop God’s Plan
“If God is for us, who can be against us?” That’s not just a comforting thought. It’s a declaration of unstoppable favour.
When God chooses you, the opinions of others can’t un-choose you. Your past mistakes don’t have the final word. The devil himself can’t cancel your calling.
God knew exactly who you were when He called you. And He still said, “I want you.”
So step out, not in confidence in yourself, but in confidence in Him. Because when He moves through your life, it will be undeniable, it has to be God.
God is not looking for the strongest, smartest, or most successful.
He’s looking for the surrendered.
He’s looking for the ones who will say,
“I may be weak, but my God is strong.”
Let your life be a testimony. Let people look at you and say,
“That has to be God.”