Weakness. It is something we all face at some point in our life. We all have already. I have definitely been facing it a lot lately, maybe even more than ever before. I am not talking physical weakness; I am talking the weakness where the weight of the world seems to be on your shoulders. Maybe it is because a friend has let you down, maybe you just cannot seem to bear with your family anymore, maybe your job is asking just too much of you, or it could be that you are simply struggling with day-to-day fears. When it comes down to it, weakness is weakness. We all know it well.
For me, it seemed that everything was piling on top of each other. I was swimming in oceans of fear, unbelief, and pain, and with every muscle I moved while trying to tread its waters, I only became weaker. Just when I thought I had had enough, one more thing would pile on, and I would dive back under the currents. I was losing sleep, and was eating less; it was affecting my schoolwork, my relationship with my family and friends, and most importantly, my relationship with God. “Lord, when will you save me? Am I to drown in my weakness forever?” I would cry. Over and over I would fall to my knees, inwardly screaming at God, asking why He was not delivering me from all that was out to crush me.
I am sure you all have felt like that at some point. The weight is unbearable sometimes. Like I said, I thought I would never keep my head above the waters. Yet God, in His faithful, loving way, lead me to read these verses just when I needed them the most.
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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
-2 Corinthians 12:9-10
At first, I only thought it was a cool verse. It had a nice sound to it, and it temporarily made me feel better. “God gives me grace when I am weak. That is pretty neat.” I thought. But then these verses started reappearing every day. Seemingly everywhere I went, I would read or hear those words. People on the radio would mention it, skimming through my bible I would fall upon it, I would find it written in devotionals, and even my pastor used it in his sermon one Sunday! And as I started seeing this passage more and more, something began to happen inside of my small heart. With each reminder of this truth, its meaning grew deeper and deeper. It resonated first in my mind, then traveling down into my heart and soul, until once again I fell to my knees. But this time I fell not because of weakness. No this time, I crumbled from the weight of my Father's love and grace. Grace so heavy I could not hold it all of it; love so immaculate that I could not contain it.
"My grace is sufficient for you..."
God's grace is so vast, so immovable, that we do not have to ask for anything else. His grace covers everything. Through our hardships, His grace sustains us. It carries us. It never leaves.
God's grace is so vast, so immovable, that we do not have to ask for anything else. His grace covers everything. Through our hardships, His grace sustains us. It carries us. It never leaves.
"My power is made perfect in weakness."
You will have weak days. You will have weak months. You will have times of weakness where all you can do is call out His name. But friend, this verse offers so much hope, so much peace. When we give up our trials and fears to Jesus, He is able to turn weak into strong. He will lift you off of your feeble knees and onto His shoulders, soaring on wings like eagles. (Isaiah 40:29-31)
"That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Weaknesses will come. The world promises them. When they do, you have an option. You can let them weigh you down until you are falling apart. Or you can give them to the One who turns trials into triumph. You can use your weakness and boast of how your God is able to sustain you. And when you do that, the joy of the Lord will strengthen you.
"Then you will look and be radiant, and your heart will throb and swell with joy..." - Isaiah 60:5
You will have weak days. You will have weak months. You will have times of weakness where all you can do is call out His name. But friend, this verse offers so much hope, so much peace. When we give up our trials and fears to Jesus, He is able to turn weak into strong. He will lift you off of your feeble knees and onto His shoulders, soaring on wings like eagles. (Isaiah 40:29-31)
"That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
Weaknesses will come. The world promises them. When they do, you have an option. You can let them weigh you down until you are falling apart. Or you can give them to the One who turns trials into triumph. You can use your weakness and boast of how your God is able to sustain you. And when you do that, the joy of the Lord will strengthen you.
"Then you will look and be radiant, and your heart will throb and swell with joy..." - Isaiah 60:5
He is waiting ever so lovingly for you to give Him your weakness, my friend.
Let His power rule over you today.
xo
