What would you prefer, to feel strong, capable, and on top of everything, or to feel weak, inadequate, and overwhelmed? If you’re anything like me, the former is way more appealing than the later.
Jesus, however, turns this idea completely upside down. Paul the apostle was wrestling with what he called a “thorn in his side.” It made him feel weak and humiliated. He begged Jesus to take it away. But, instead of removing it, Jesus added something to it – grace!
He told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” That transformed Paul’s perception of weakness and he responded, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
You see, being overwhelmed helps us get over the deception that we can do life on our own. Weakness wakes us up to our need for God’s grace. Difficulty drives us to depend on Jesus. Failure forces us to admit that we need help.
Here’s the truth – We are infinitely stronger relying on Jesus than relying on ourselves.
So let’s start seeing difficulty as a gift. Let’s see the stress at work, that challenging child at home, the fear over finances, the difficulty of strained relationships, the feelings of failure, or whatever else you may be dealing with, as an opportunity to tap into God’s grace.
Like Paul, let’s “delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12:10) Let’s learn the lesson that strength = reliance. Let’s embrace our weakness, and cry out to Jesus for His help!
For it’s only when we are fully dependent, that we are truly strong.
Jesus, however, turns this idea completely upside down. Paul the apostle was wrestling with what he called a “thorn in his side.” It made him feel weak and humiliated. He begged Jesus to take it away. But, instead of removing it, Jesus added something to it – grace!
He told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” That transformed Paul’s perception of weakness and he responded, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
You see, being overwhelmed helps us get over the deception that we can do life on our own. Weakness wakes us up to our need for God’s grace. Difficulty drives us to depend on Jesus. Failure forces us to admit that we need help.
Here’s the truth – We are infinitely stronger relying on Jesus than relying on ourselves.
So let’s start seeing difficulty as a gift. Let’s see the stress at work, that challenging child at home, the fear over finances, the difficulty of strained relationships, the feelings of failure, or whatever else you may be dealing with, as an opportunity to tap into God’s grace.
Like Paul, let’s “delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12:10) Let’s learn the lesson that strength = reliance. Let’s embrace our weakness, and cry out to Jesus for His help!
For it’s only when we are fully dependent, that we are truly strong.
Posted in devo