Weakling

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My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:7

We are told in many ways by society that we need to be strong, not weak. We need to take charge of things and make things happen. Road rage is about not letting someone get in front of us. Many conflicts arise out of someone moving in on what we feel is ours. Jealousy comes from someone getting something we wanted. We measure the success of others by the degree to which we feel they have control of their lives and the circumstances that surround them. Those who struggle with illnesses, finances or relationships we perceive to be weaker than those who seem to have everything under control. Christians have to be careful in this judgment because the Bible teaches us that we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and that God will surely not judge us the way we judge each other but will be able to measure the true man and our relationship with Jesus Christ.

The Biblical Paul seems to have had it together. He was educated, a leader and persuader of men. Strong in faith and a man of action, he figures prominently in the New Testament as important and effective. Yet, in just one short passage in Chapter 12 of 2 Corinthians, he gives us a glimpse of his inner man. He was troubled by some weakness, illness or sin and he pleaded with the Lord to move it on more than one occasion. The answer he got is that God’s grace is sufficient ; that was not about Paul, but about God and when Paul was weak, God was manifest as strong. Ultimately, Paul’s “problem” didn’t deter him, but drew him closer to God and caused him to rely upon God’s love and grace to carry him forward.

As Christians, we have to be careful not to confuse chronic sin as a thorn in the flesh. Sins separates us from God, Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” drew him to God. If your weaknesses send you to your knees and cause you to draw closer to God and to constantly reflect on his power to keep you and continue to proclaim his goodness and to affect those around you who witness your faith--then be glad—and be weak, but be strong.

Live today realizing the battle is not yours, but the Lord’s.

Deacon Larry Woodard