In Our Weakness
With the NFL and college football seasons both starting a few weeks ago, touchdown dances and celebrations will be a common sight if you tune in. Players will pound their chest upon making a great play. Their talent, skill, and speed lead them to rejoice in their own strength. Fans also rejoice as they watch!
Recently, I have been feeling the opposite of mentally “pounding my chest.” I feel more like the players who hang their heads as they walk off the field in defeat. Picture the kicker who misses the game winning field goal. Walking away with the weight of the loss on their shoulders after letting their team down.
Over the last few weeks, the Holy Spirit has brought the passage in 2 Corinthians 12 to mind. The phrase, “for my (God’s) power is made perfect in weakness” (v 9) has been ringing in my mind as my weaknesses are put on display. Although I know this to be true, the weight of overwhelming defeat about letting those around me (and the Lord) down seems to ring louder some days.
Pride is always creeping around in our hearts presenting in different ways. Sometimes it presents as a metaphorical pounding of the chest which says “look at me!” and “look at what I can do!” Other times it presents as a self-centered insecurity that keeps our heads hung low. But how can we become like Paul who says,
“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, 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, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
He rejoices in his weakness because he knows a “thorn was given him in the flesh, a messenger of Satan” to keep him “from becoming conceited” (v 7). Our weaknesses, whether internal or external, are not meant to weigh us down or discourage us, but to keep us from becoming conceited. Our weaknesses are meant to help us say “look at my God and what HE can do!” Limited time, wisdom, giftings, and energy remind us that fruit comes from Him alone. Difficult circumstances, loss, and infirmities remind us of our lack of control.
What weakness have you been given? How do we respond and deal with the weaknesses we have been given?
As we read Paul’s example, we glean two things:
We see that he “pleaded with the Lord” to take away this weakness (v 8). He took it to the Lord and asked for deliverance. Our loving Father always welcomes our prayers, but we must learn to be content with His answer even when it is not the answer we were hoping for. Do you bring your weaknesses before the Lord? Have you pleaded with Him for deliverance? If so, how have you responded to His answer?
We then see Paul accept this weakness. More than desiring relief, he desires to rest in reliance on Christ. He chooses to trust that God’s grace truly is sufficient. There is no insecurity for the person fully secure in the grace of God. This leads to freedom in sharing about our weaknesses. Paul boasts “all the more gladly” of his weakness, unashamed to admit that he is indeed weak. Do you trust that God’s grace truly is sufficient for you? Do your weaknesses lead you to rest in reliance on Him? Do you confidently share your weaknesses with others?
John Calvin says, “The valleys are watered with rain to make them fruitful while the summits of lofty mountains remain dry. A man must become a valley if he wants to receive the heavenly rain of God’s spiritual grace.”
Realizing that we are weak, allows us to rest in the all sufficient grace and power of Christ. Let His power make you strong in your weakness.
