When I Am Weak, Then I Am Strong - Life Center

Saturday, May 28

When I am weak, then I am strong.

Scripture: 1 Kings 1-2, 2 Corinthians 12

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so that I would not exalt myself. 8 Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. 9 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. 10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Observation

I wish I knew what Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was: sickness, opposition, depression. Whatever it was, it tormented him and was designed to keep him humble. 

Three times he prayed, “Take it away.” Each time the Lord answered, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.”

So Paul decided to boast and take pleasure in his weaknesses so that Christ’s power may reside in him. “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Application

As I mentioned yesterday, we American Christians don’t have a robust theology of suffering and hardship. My first response, like Paul, is to cry, “Take it away.” What if God has a purpose in it? Certainly it could be to keep me humble and dependent. 

What if God wants me to learn that His grace is sufficient? It is enough, and I can lean into it. If I was depending more on His grace and His power, then I could actually welcome weakness, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties. They would be opportunities for God’s grace and power to shine in my life. 

When I am strong, I am strong. It’s certainly not bad or wrong to be strong. When I am weak, He is strong. That’s better. 

The reality is that I am weak, and in acknowledging my weakness, I make room for His grace to work in me. 

Today, I’m still recovering my strength from Covid. I’m preaching tonight and tomorrow and traveling after. Time to lean in. His grace is sufficient. 

When I am weak, then I am strong. 

Prayer: Lord, I love this passage. Today, and all this week, I want to lean into Your grace and find strength to be and do what You want.