I grew up in a big city culture where, not surprisingly, toughness was valued: never backing down from a fight, even if it meant taking a beating, was honorable. By the time I was eleven, I'd broken my right hand on people's heads, twice. Being weak or showing weakness was despised.
The Church, too, values strength. We want our leaders to be strong. We encourage the stiff upper lip approach to hardship. We have created a culture where being transparent is risky, especially for anyone in leadership. Leaders are supposed to have it together.
I still like and desire physical strength. Emotional strength, too, but sometimes, life levels you. It can flatten you out. It can leave you feeling diminished. Less than.
When you feel that way, you are on the threshold of opportunity. The opportunity to discover God's strength. A strength that is only available, yes, only available to the powerless.
People in the recovery community make progress when they admit they are powerless over something- it may be a chemical or it may be gambling, overeating or any number of things. Whether you are in the recovery community or not, you and I face things that take us to the mat again and again, leaving us feeling beaten.
God won't force Himself into your weakness, but He will meet you there in such a way that you will find yourself, like Paul the Apostle, boasting of your weaknesses!
You can keep trying to be tough, and lose, or instead of fighting weakness, maybe it's time you embrace it. Celebrate it. Invite God into it. You'll win!