Strength in Weakness

By Anonymous

He said to me, "My grace is enough for you, because power is made perfect in weakness." So I'll gladly spend my time bragging about my weaknesses so that Christ's power can rest on me. Therefore, I'm all right with weaknesses, insults, disasters, harassments, and stressful situations for the sake of Christ, because when I'm weak, then I'm strong.

- 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NRSV -


In high school my youth pastor used the image of a clay jar with a candle inside to explain how we can find strength in weakness. If a clay jar is perfectly intact and closed with a lid, the light of the candle inside is hidden. From the outside no one is able to tell that the candle exists. However, when the clay jar is cracked and broken, the light of the candle shines through, revealing its existence.

This is how we can find strength in weakness, thereby glorifying God. If humans were perfect, there would be no need to point to a savior. From the outside no one would see the need for redemption. We are imperfect, we have cracks, we are broken, but grace shines through revealing the existence of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is easy to get discouraged in the face of our own shortcomings. You may have an imperfection that you continue to struggle with. Maybe you feel you are too shy or too lazy. Maybe you are not a good public speaker or you do not know enough. Maybe you have earnestly prayed for growth in an area only for the struggle to persist.

Prior to this passage Paul tells of a shortcoming he has struggled with. He prayed three times for it to be taken away, and the response he received changed his perspective. The response Paul received from God was this, "My grace is enough for you, because power is made perfect in weakness." Moses had a stutter. Jonah ran from God. Zaccheus had cheated many. Jacob was a liar. David struggled with lust. But the Bible shows us how God moved through them despite their shortcomings.

If you want to share your faith with someone or if you want to show the love of Christ, but you are worried that you are not good enough, then you are exactly where you need to be. Because the truth is you are not perfect, but God is. He is with you, through all of the weaknesses, insults, disasters, harassments, and stressful situations. When you are weak, He is strong.

For more encouragement in finding strength in weakness, meditate over these scriptures:
1 Timothy 1:15-16
Philippians 4:13
Galatians 6:14



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