A Repeated Phrase  

Thursday, April 8

A Repeated Phrase  

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

The world we live in today applauds independence and power. We learn from a young age that we ought to be strong, assertive and success is rewarded only to those who work hard. Only the best efforts are recognized and affirmed. Unfortunately, we tend to bring this ‘performance mentality’ into our relationship with the Lord, thinking that He will only be able to use us greatly when have proved ourselves to be capable, efficient and strong, and when we have it all together. We fail to remember that God does not call the qualified, He qualifies those who move in obedience.

I don’t know about you, but, even though I have been a child of God for most of my life, I do not ‘have it all together’ all the time. I often feel weak and inadequate for what God has called me to do. Some days I feel overwhelmed by the demands of life and ministry, and really vulnerable, but each time this feeling comes over me I remember God loves it when I choose to simply lean into Him and rest in His strength, in those times when I feel weak. In 2 Corinthians 12:9 the Lord tells us that His power works best in weakness, when we are unable to ‘perform’ in our own strength.

There are many accounts in Scripture where people found themselves in a place of lack or weakness, and God used them to do the impossible. One such account is from the book of Judges and focuses on Gideon. Gideon came from weakest clan in Manasseh and was the least in his own family. He was the most unlikely candidate to head up the great exploit of saving God’s people from the Midianites. Yet God called him a ‘mighty man of valour’, I can imagine Gideon looking around to see who God was talking to because it couldn’t be him. God told him, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” (Judges 6:14). It was as if God was saying, “Gideon, just give me the little bit of strength you have. Let go and trust me, God. Trust me with your weakness, and I will do the rest” (my paraphrase). And because of Gideon’s obedience we know how the story ends. God gave Gideon a very unusual battle strategy, using only 300 men to defeat over triple its size.

When the apostle Paul wrote the passage in 2 Corinthians12, he was speaking of a ‘thorn’ in his flesh, something that caused him to feel weak, and which God chose not to remove from Him. But used it demonstrate God’s keeping power. God told Him, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” Paul understood that surrendering his weakness to God, by leaning into His grace, would make room for God’s power to work through him.

I now realize that, just like Gideon or Paul, God delights in us leaning into Him when we feel inadequate and weak. So, just like the apostle Paul, I will be ‘glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.’

Prayer for today: Thank You, Father, that You know me completely. You know my strengths but also my weakness. Lord, I surrender to You all my feelings of inadequacy and of not feeling enough. I lean into You, Father, and ask that Your power will work in and through me to bring glory to Your name. Amen.