“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9, CSB
Raise your hand if you like to boast about your weakness! Since I can’t see you, I am going to assume that not many people raised their hands. I do know someone who would have gladly raised his hand. His name was Paul. Just like Paul in 2 Corinthians, boasting in our weakness is something that we all must learn to do. And not only learn to do it, but know WHY we should boast in our weakness.
Paul had a lot to boast about. He could have boasted about his education, his Jewish heritage, or even his Roman citizenship. However, Paul learned that there was something better than all those things—his relationship with Jesus. After meeting Jesus miraculously on his journey to arrest Christians, carrying the Gospel through shipwrecks, persecution, starvation, and pleading with the Lord to take away the “thorn” from his life, Paul finally realized that the only thing he could boast in was the Lord bringing strength to his weakness.
Paul did not have an easy life. But God told him that His grace was sufficient for him—that God’s power is perfected in weakness. Paul had weakness (as we all do) but he could gladly boast in his weakness to see the power of God poured out through his life. And, this allowed him to point others to the reason for his strength! Relying on God meant he could take pleasure in his weakness for the sake of Christ! He knew that when he was weak, it actually made room for God's strength in his life.
Challenge:
Is there something that you have asked God to take away in your life that still remains? Do you feel inadequate to do something that He has called you to do? Remind yourself this week your weakness is not a hinderance but your avenue toward receiving God's greatest strength.