My strength is made perfect in weakness

2 Corinthians 12:9

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Paul was dealt a thorn in the flesh. God chose that it would be so. It was to serve as an agent to keep him under humility and dependent on the Lord’s strength. Often, the very things that we think are the worst scourges in our lives are actually the greatest blessings of our lives. For you see! He was buffeted by this, and besought the Lord that it might be removed. But the Lord said “no”! The Lord said, “You have all in me!” “My strength is made perfect in weakness!” Paul would never be the man he was without the thorn. He would have more earthly and physical strength perhaps, or he would not feel the great weakness bearing down on him, but what of that? What is earthly strength? What is the power of the flesh? It is nothing! It certainly is not something upon which you or I can lean. We must lean on the Lord, because His strength is made perfect in our weakness!

Paul then had this dramatic shift in his thinking. He said, “Now I glory in infirmities, reproaches, necessities, etc.” It is now a pleasure, he says. It is now a joy to experience the rejections and persecutions of Christ, for it is during the weakest times that I may feel God’s power most evident and palpable. It is then that the power of Christ rests upon me! Is there anything better than that? Is there anything greater than the power of Christ? Most certainly not! But we must come to the jolting realization in this life that this wondrous and glorious power, and this otherwise unattainable potency is only available through the times of weakness. And therefore the apostle says, “When I am weak, then am I strong.” The whole world will never comprehend such a statement. And I fear, lest by any means, many Christians may also be averse to this great concept. They know it not! And you will never understand this concept until you experience the weakness of the flesh and the human mind. Then, you shall know, that when you are weak, He is strong. My beloved, look not on the weakness as a terrible scourge, or as a curse. But instead, thank God. Yes, thank God for the weakness. For in your weakness, His strength is made perfect. And when you are weak, then you may have the power of Christ upon you.

“Father, thank you for helping us to see the power and beauty of physical weakness. This may include emotional and mental weakness. Any weakness may become the channel of God’s power. Please Lord, help us to utilize the weak moments to find all of our power in Christ. And may we find the statement to be true in our lives personally that when we are weak, then are we strong. Thank you for the strength that you give, and that comes through our greatest weakness. May your power be upon us this day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”