Boasting in Weakness

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.

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
The squirrel standoff when I kicked him off the bird feeder!

Last week was vacation from work for us. I love vacation; most of us do. We spent the first portion of the time in our motor home at our camping lot and were able to enjoy several trips to Kayak Point – a spot on the Puget Sound just a few minutes away.

When our week geared down and I refocused on assignments due and facing working on Monday, I found myself feeling very overwhelmed. This class is particularly heavy and I often feel like my brain is Teflon – everything just slips off. In addition, while I like my new job, it is work enough for two people during a normal week and I will likely return to about 700 email, literally. Is this blog a whine about my life? No, there’s a purpose . . . hang with me . . .

In the midst of this, I read the verse about weakness and God’s grace and power in 1 Corinthians 12. I do not like weakness; I never have. Having said that, I currently find myself in this pressure place where everything is so much that I cannot even hope to achieve it in myself and I have reached a place of utter dependence on God.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

“But God, would it not be better if I was competent and confident and
able to function well with the gifts that you have given me?”

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

We live in some very challenging times. People feel the need to express their opinions and are intolerant of others having different views. Many things that were “normal” about daily life have changed. I know I have had in-person interactions with only a few people in the last five months. All of this adds a level of stress to our lives. I find that the only way to cope with it is to daily give it all up to Jesus. Often, I am on my knees praying and literally just lift my arms up to Him, symbolically offering all that is weighing me down.

With additional burdens and stressors, it is easy just to feel wiped out and anxious – weak. I feel flat as a pancake sometimes. God’s Word advises that if we confess our weakness, His power is made perfect and rests upon us! It seems counter intuitive, but that is what Paul tells the Corinthians, he will be even more “out there” about his area(s) of weakness so that the power of Christ may rest upon him.

While it may seem unusual, this verse offered me hope this week and I trust it will do the same for someone else. I am weak, particularly compared to my all-powerful Father. But when I place my pancake-flat life, my concerns and worries and stresses, all my inabilities, in His hands – giving up my ability to do anything, then His power can be manifest.

“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.”

Thank you, Father, that you cover us in our weakness!

2 thoughts on “Boasting in Weakness

  1. Eleanor, thank you for your comment. This is definitely a challenging season, but I am learning much and know that God has many things that He is working out in me. Thank you for your prayers. I look forward to our Zoom-ing 🙂 on Thursday evening!

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  2. Dearest Denise. Thank you for sharing your ❤ Putting your self right out there., So many of us need to humble ourselves and be honest with our feelings, so thank you.. Knowing this is such a difficult time for you, the only thing we can do is keep you uplifted to our Lord as He walks beside you during this season .and that you will feel His presence and 💘, You are such a special person, And I’m so thankful He brought you into my life ..

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