My Weakness. God’s Strength.
Bible Readings
Take a few minutes to read the Bible verses listed and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how this verse applies to you this week.
1 I have to brag. There is nothing to be gained by it, but I must brag about the visions and other things that the Lord has shown me. 2 I know about one of Christ's followers who was taken up into the third heaven 14 years ago. I don't know if the man was still in his body when it happened, but God certainly knows. 3 As I said, only God really knows if this man was in his body at the time. 4 But he was taken up into paradise, where he heard things too wonderful to tell. 5 I will brag about that man, but not about myself, except to say how weak I am. 6 Yet even if I did brag, I would not be foolish. I would simply be speaking the truth. But I will try not to say too much. That way, none of you will think more highly of me than you should because of what you have seen me do and say. 7 Of course, I am now referring to the wonderful things I saw. One of Satan's angels was sent to make me suffer terribly, so that I would not feel too proud. 8 Three times I begged the Lord to make this suffering go away. 9 But he replied, “My gift of undeserved grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am. 10 Yes, I am glad to be weak or insulted or mistreated or to have troubles and sufferings, if it is for Christ. Because when I am weak, I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
Memory Verse
2 Corinthians 12: 9-10
9 But he replied, “My gift of undeserved grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am. 10 Yes, I am glad to be weak or insulted or mistreated or to have troubles and sufferings, if it is for Christ. Because when I am weak, I am strong.
Is there something you’re so proud of that you love to tell people about it? In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul didn’t boast about some great thing he did, but about his weakness. Some translations of the Bible refer to Paul’s problem as “a thorn in [his] flesh.” To have a thorn stuck in your skin means to have a source of constant irritation, pain, or stress.
No one knows what was really bothering Paul, but whatever it was, Paul begged God three times to take it away. But God didn’t answer Paul’s prayer the way he’d hoped. Instead, God told Paul that his grace was enough. It was all Paul needed. What did Paul do? He responded by calling this constant, nagging problem a gift. A gift!
Can this be true? Can our struggles actually be good?
Paul wasn’t the only servant of God who faced difficulty. When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush and called him to lead the Israelites, Moses asked, “Why me?” Moses wasn’t a good public speaker, and he didn’t think of himself as a leader. But God reminded Moses that he would provide all that Moses needed. And he did! God used Moses to lead the Israelites to freedom. Where Moses was weak, God was stronger.
Paul’s prayer didn’t change his circumstances. The “thorn” did not just go away. What his prayer did change was Paul’s attitude. God can and will sometimes remove our difficult circumstances. But whether he does or not, he promises that his grace is always enough to help us go through them.
God’s promise to Paul is a promise for you, too. His grace is enough for each one of us. When we are weak, he is strong. Now that’s something to boast about!
Prayer
God, my provider, your kindness is all I need. Your power is strongest when I am weak. So Jesus, if you keep giving me your power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am. Yes, I am glad to be weak or insulted or mistreated or to have troubles and sufferings, if it is for you, Christ Jesus. Because when I am weak, you are strong, Amen.Related Resources
Sara Korber-DeWeerd
Sara Korber-DeWeerd is a freelance writer, teacher, and Down syndrome advocate. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband Mark and their three children, plus one dog and seven chickens. When not teaching or writing, Sara enjoys exploring the mountains, lakes, and rocky coastlines of New England with her active family (though they usually leave the chickens at home).