That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor 12:10 (NLT)
It's easy for us 2000 years later, to look at the life of Paul and think “he was the man” – literally.
And he was an amazing man of God.
Through his obedience, he has done much for all believers. But here at the beginning of 2 Cor 12, he’s asking us not to think of him more highly than we ought to – he wants us to see the entirety of his life, the ups and downs, things said, and things done – the whole story, not just a snapshot of his public moments.
Paul was sent a “thorn in his side”… there’s heaps of commentaries around what this ‘thorn’ was, but at the end of the day, it was something that kept Paul reliant on God. And it’s this weakness, Paul says, that made God’s power rest – take up residence – upon him. It's not the exertion of human strength that makes a perfect home for God’s power… But it's the space created by weakness – our humanity and natural frailty – that gives room for the power of God to abide in us. His strength is perfected and completed IN our weakness, not in spite of it. Jesus cannot fully show the extent of His wonder and glory unless He does so through a broken vessel.
2 Cor 4:7 says “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves.”
When your weaknesses present themselves, allow His strength to fill up your frailty, displaying that lasting power does not depend on human force, but in the supernatural strength of Christ. It's your whole story that testifies the greatness of God… the good AND the bad, the strong AND the weak.
Have an awesome day.