Our Weakness

Today's Scripture: 2 Corinthians 12:10 "When I am weak, then I am strong." Read it online at the Bible Gateway: ( NIV) (NASB) (KJV) (The Message)

Paul's attitude toward his weakness was vastly different from our usual response. We abhor weakness and glory in self-sufficiency and manmade accomplishments. Even Christians flock to hear a testimony from the sports superstar or the popular entertainer simply because of that person's fame and status. How many of us would make any effort to hear a man who said, "I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses. I am content with weaknesses. When I am weak, then I am strong" (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)?

I think of how I've struggled with my own weaknesses instead of delighting in them. I think of the disappointment of failing to reach important goals, of humiliations suffered that were too painful to ever share with anyone, of somewhat minor but very annoying lifetime physical infirmities. Only in the last few years have I realized what a significant contribution these have made on my walk with God and my service for him, especially in their cumulative effect. I think I'm only beginning to understand a little the validity of Paul's statement, "When I am weak, then I am strong."

Sometimes when I'm introduced as a speaker, I cringe inwardly as the person introducing me waxes eloquent about my accomplishments. I think, "What if they knew the other side of the story? Would they all get up and leave?" Yet ironically, it is the other side of the story, the humiliations and heartaches, the failures and frustrations—not the successes and accomplishments—that have qualified me to be there to speak. Those difficult times have driven me to the Lord. I'll be honest. It wasn't that I wanted to lean on God; I had no other choice. But I'm finally learning that in weakness I find strength—his strength.