state: “When we live primarily out of
our weaknesses, we find ourselves
in moments, even seasons, of
paralysis.” How do we live out of our
weaknesses? Can you cite a few
examples?
Alan: We live out of our weaknesses
when we continually limp along in
areas we are neither passionate
about or competent in. We live here
because of fear; we don’t know what
else we would do with our lives, our
career, our time. Sometimes we need
to stay in the job we’re in but simply
delegate responsibilities. Other times
we need to move on. Living in our
weaknesses for a majority of our week
is the perfect recipe for burnout.
I’ve seen the school teacher stay
three years too many, the young
adult try to become a pastor
because they thought it was more
spiritual than social work and the
aspiring doctor quit school because
they hated studying biology. The
consequences of living in our weak-
nesses can stifle us for a long time.
are stewards of the gifts of God and
we must release them to bless the
world. Talents aren’t supposed to live
six feet underground.
Alan Briggs is the Director of Frontline
Church Planting, a network and
hub for connecting and equipping
mission-centered leaders. He is also
the Multiplying Pastor at Vanguard
Church in Colorado Springs
and a gospel conspirator in his
neighborhood. In addition to his latest
release, Everyone’s a Genius, he’s
also the author of Staying Is the New
Going and Guardrails, and speaks
about unlocking the Body of Christ to
serve inside and outside the walls.
Why does living out of our strengths
change our perspective on risk-
taking and (i.e., loving the process of
being pushed to our creative lim-its)?
Alan: Living in our strengths puts us
as the best intersection to see the
image of God in us. Many of our
strengths are simply things God wired
us to do, but our role is to hone them.
We begin to take risks realizing we
Solutions 59