I Am Weak and He Is Strong ~ Patricia Tichonoff
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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)
What beautiful verses from Paul when he was feeling so weak and overwhelmed by life’s challenges. As I reflect on my past, I remember those weak moments of sadness, hopelessness, and even the persecutions of others against me.
Through my reflections on life, I found that I had given into the moments of feeling worthless and ashamed. I would have my own pity parties, and, in all honesty, they did not serve me well. I gave all the excuses one could come up with and mentally I told myself that maybe I did not deserve better. It is easy to forget that God sustains us through all of life's challenges.
My sin nature is to try to remove the afflictions and blame someone else for the bad circumstances. Paul never put guilt on anyone. In his letters to the church in Corinth, he not only encourages and points out ways to avoid the blame game but offers wisdom about our reliance on God. It is there that we can experience His strength in a profound way. We need to be honest and let God’s grace point out all our vulnerabilities. For spiritual growth to happen we must lean into Him and admit that we are powerless and weak without Christ.
When I admit my limitations and flaws (of which there are many), it is then that I can walk through the open door. I trust God for He has promised to hold my hand, and He wants me to understand that even though I am weak, HE IS STRONG.
Yes, Jesus loves me...
Father, we all have those moments when we know we have sinned or found ourselves in circumstances that we have fallen into not fully understanding the gravity of the sin within us. Your hand is always open to receive us with love and forgiveness even when it is not deserved. AMEN.