We can’t turn back the clock. We can’t hide all your flaws, but we can make them your strengths.
-Tony “Little Duke” Evers, Creed III
In 2023, the world was blessed with another installment of the Creed franchise. Unfortunately, this version of Creed didn't include Rocky at all, which made it kind of hard for me to get behind the first time I watched it. It didn't feel like a Rocky movie. But I have to admit, it was still a really good movie!
In Creed III, we find an older Adonis Creed retiring and living his life as a promoter. He's married, raising his daughter, whom he adores, and living a good life in his LA mansion. Then, a friend from his past returns from jail, bringing with him many painful memories from his days suffering abuse in a foster care group home.
Dame, Adonis's childhood friend, was just released from jail. Throughout the movie, he manipulates Donnie, using Donnie's past mistakes and regrets against him. Eventually, he gets Donnie to put him in a title fight, and he wins the title.
Dame immediately changes his attitude toward Donnie. He threatens him by saying he will take everything Donnie has. Donnie is stuck in his past and ends up coming out of retirement to fight Dame.
This is when we get this quote. Donnie's trainer assesses Donnie's ability to fight, and he says, "We can't turn back the clock. We can't hide all your flaws, but we can make them your strengths." (1)
They begin to train him, and of course, he wins.
But this quote really stuck out to me. An unbreakable man understands this concept.
We often dwell on our mistakes, sins, or flaws in life. We might wish we could turn back the clock, erase our shortcomings, and present ourselves as perfect. But the truth is, we can't undo the past or hide what brings us shame.
The good news is that our weaknesses don't define us. What defines us is how we respond to them. The quote above reminds us that while we can't change the past or make ourselves perfect, we can transform our weaknesses into strengths through the power of God.
This idea echoes the message of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9.
“But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." (NIV)
Paul understood that his weaknesses were not something to be hidden or ashamed of but something through which God's power could be displayed.
God doesn't expect us to be perfect; He expects us to be authentic and open to His transforming power.
Our weaknesses are opportunities for God to work in and through us. When we acknowledge our weaknesses, we invite God's strength to fill those gaps. This helps make us unbreakable men who win!
Bibliography:
1. Creed III. Directed by Michael B. Jordan , performances by Michael B. Jordan and Tessa Thompson , Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 2023.
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