Lord, I BelieveНамуна

I believe . . . when I am weak, I am strong

When I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:10

Christianity abounds with upside-down truths.

If you want to live, die (Matthew 10:39). If you want to be first, be last (Mark 9:35). If you want to be the greatest, become a servant (Matthew 20:26).

Consider one of the most upside-down statements of the New Testament, made by the apostle Paul: “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Paul suffered from an unspecified condition. Most scholars suspect it was a painful eye disease. Others think his challenge was a spiritual opponent who attempted to thwart his ministry. In a letter to the Corinthians, Paul didn’t glamorize his weakness or minimize his pain. He described it as “a messenger of Satan” that tormented him (v. 7).

Perhaps the most vexing aspect of Paul’s condition was suspecting he could do much more for God without it.

But could he?

Three times, he begged the Lord to remove his thorn.

Three times God said no.

No? Really God?

Yep.

Why?

“To keep [you] from becoming conceited,” God revealed to Paul (v. 7).

God knew if Paul served Him from a position of strength, he’d fail. Pride would make him depend on his natural abilities instead of God’s enabling. He’d follow his human instincts and make decisions based on his intellect instead of relying on God to direct him.

God knew Paul would be most effective in the kingdom if he labored from a position of weakness.

Imagine this.

“My grace is sufficient for you,” God told Paul, “for My power is perfected in weakness” (v. 9).

And it was.

With the grace God provided in his affliction, Paul evangelized most of Asia and parts of Europe. He planted many churches despite fierce opposition and opposition, sang praises to God from a jail cell, and wrote much of the New Testament while imprisoned for his faith.

Paul accomplished everything God called him to do by relying on God’s strength in his weakness.

What hinders you today?

A health condition? A financial challenge? Maybe you’re not the most educated or socially positioned. Perhaps you’re “too old.” Or “too young.” Or your past anchors you to the ground while you long to soar in the Spirit. If you were smarter, younger, richer, or more eloquent, imagine what you could do.

Yet God gives you weaknesses.

“Therefore,” Paul concluded, as he accepted with faith the limitations God gave, “I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me” (v. 9).

The same is true for us today. The power of Christ rests on us when we accept our weaknesses and rely on God’s strength.

Accepting doesn’t mean we don’t learn, grow, and overcome. It means we don’t allow our weaknesses to keep us from serving God. We don’t wait until every obstacle vanishes before we surrender all to Him.

Remember Paul’s incredible list of accomplishments? He completed those tasks in his weakness, not in spite of it.

What might God enable us to do?

Share Christ with our neighbor? Sing praises to God from the prison of a sick bed? Pray for our church’s missionaries, Sunday school workers, and pastor? Write faith-filled letters to those who need encouragement?

We probably won’t evangelize most of Asia or witness to kings, but we’re not Paul. God has other plans for us.

Weaknesses and all.

Embrace the Truth: The power of Christ rests upon us when we surrender our weaknesses to God and rely on His strength.

Declare Your Faith: Lord, I believe when I am weak, then I am strong. Although it defies reason, I believe you work best through my weakness. Forgive me for being prideful and clinging to my pitiful strength instead of trusting you to empower me. I surrender my weaknesses to you and ask you to fill me with your mighty strength. Use my limitations to bring you glory. In the strong name of Jesus I ask, amen.