Tedashii - Below ParadiseSample

Nothin I Can't Do In our culture weakness is often synonymous with inability. Strength with ability. As a child I read comic books and watched cartoons where the strong superhero was championed. I would run around the house pretending that I was Superman. I just wanted to be strong - inside and out. Because when you're strong you can do a lot of things. When you're strong you can sweep women off their feet. When you're strong you can not let hurtful words from others stick. When you're strong you can make it through difficult situations without a tear. When you're strong suffering seems like it's not that big of a deal. The scriptures would say otherwise. In my own thinking I would have never thought that the beginning of strength is an acknowledgement, an acceptance, of weakness, but that's exactly what we see from Paul in 2 Corinthians 12. In his affliction he becomes painfully aware that he is weak. And he doesn't try to change that. He doesn't will himself to strength - he gladly acknowledges, and accepts the strength of one who is much greater. I used to pride myself on being strong. I wasn't easily bothered by things. I was mentally strong enough to not get swept away in common schemes. I thought I was strong because I easily handled the various circumstances that we're sent my way - divorce, job loss, conflict in relationships. But then one day the Lord shattered my facade of strength. He gave me a circumstance that I could not handle, a situation that, if left alone, I could not make it through. I was face to face with the end of my strength - but praise The Lord! - at the end of my strength was His. There is no end to His strength. It is a constant that I have access to because His Spirit lives within. So with confidence, I can boldly proclaim that there's nothing I cannot face. Nothing I can't do. He's got me. His amazing grace is more than sufficient. Father, help me to believe more and more each day that your grace is sufficient. Amen.