“My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect IN weakness.”
Life was never guaranteed to be paved with ease and comfort. Somehow, especially as Americans, this can become our default expectation. Sometimes it’s the unwritten promise on the walls of our schools—“If you succeed here you will move on to greater, more profitable, more comfortable, ease and comfort.” Again, it may not be explicitly screamed from week to week as we’re growing up, but it may be an ever-present, implicit expectation being communicated and received.
Then life takes a turn.
Unforeseen hurts. Difficulties. Pain. Suffering. Disease. All associated to the fall of Adam and Eve.
We find ourselves possibly expecting/hoping for happy, joyous, fulfilling, rewarding, comfortable lives. Add to this the whole section of the western church that has bought into the demonic lies of the health/wealth/prosperity gospel. It falsely confirms through horrible hermeneutical tactics the idea that if you’re following God—He is obligated to keep you from any form of harm or discomfort.
So not only do our own hearts within us desire ease, comfort, and a Utopian life void of all pain—our culture implicitly directs us towards it—and then misguided, self-seeking teachers trying to gain mass approval put God’s stamp of approval on it.
When all of those voices, including our own hearts, try to direct us away from any kind of weakness and suffering—it puts our world on its head when God BOTH “allows” and “purposefully causes” events and circumstances to humble us to that very weakened posture we have been trained to avoid.
In the last few years, I’ve found myself trying to ESCAPE WEAKNESS at all costs. At times, not realizing it, I’ve probably even feared weakness. It is easy to allow all of your thoughts and ideas to be consumed on avoiding weakness.
I know. The judges on American Idol and The Voice would be screaming at me that I DO NOT need to embrace weakness—that I need to see myself as strong—that I need more self-esteem and more pride—and I can overcome anything I put my mind to. But why do we fear weakness?
What if God has brought you to weakened posture to show you His sufficiency?
What if God is the One bringing you to weakened posture because only then do you see your own true state of dependency—and at the same time are reacquainted with His vast omnipotence?
In all of our plans and purposes of pulling up our bootstraps and removing ourselves from this weakened state—What if it is God who is battling against us—trying to bring us to weakness—in order to show HIs power and glory?
WHAT IF WE SPEND ALL OF OUR TIME TRYING TO ESCAPE WEAKNESS INSTEAD OF TRUSTING HOURLY IN CRYING OUT TO JESUS?
This is exactly what was happening with Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.
Paul’s heart might have been tempted to boast in other things. Jesus says to Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
Not “Paul, you’re better than this. You can do this.”
Not “Paul, you got this! You’ve got strength down deep inside of you.”
Not “Paul, you can overcome this with your own power.”
Not even close. In fact, just the opposite.
12: 9-11 Jesus words to Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
Jesus says, "MY grace...MY grace...not your strength Paul. MY power...MY power...not yours."
Paul’s response to Jesus’ words: “Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Paul’s understanding of various weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties is changed completely. In direct correlation to the circumstances is Jesus aim to “perfect His power” in those weaknesses.
Notice Paul’s desire: “so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” Interesting that he uses those two words together, “power,” and “rest.” They are not close cousins. Christ is full of power we know nothing about—and it is available to rest on us—and specifically in these times.
Notice Paul’s understanding is changed because of ONE SINGLE MOTIVATING PASSION—“FOR CHRIST’S SAKE…I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.” It is not for the sake of Paul’s pride. It is not finding our true strength in ourselves when we reach “the end of our rope.” It is truly understanding the reality that it is Christ’s power that sustains us and changes things—and therefore it is “For Christ’s sake” that we persevere through these things.
Paul has no shame in weaknesses. Paul even sees the weaknesses as an unwelcomed hurtful friends that are meant by God to perform good things.
Paul now knows that Jesus’ grace is truly sufficient. Grace is needed at the start of the day. But sometimes only two hours into the day—more grace is needed. And then again at lunch—grace is needed. In the afternoon, when the trials and difficulties pop back up in our minds or in face-to-face opposition—Jesus’ grace is still the only thing sufficient.
He is a living God/man. He is not as far removed as our thoughts would allow us to think. He is reigning and ruling. And sometimes that ruling specifically hits us in the face to bring us to His desired posture of weakness before Him. He even enjoys this process for us, because in the end, if we have submitted to what He brings us—we discover new depths of trust and enjoyment.
WHAT IF WE SPEND ALL OF OUR TIME TRYING TO ESCAPE WEAKNESS INSTEAD OF TRUSTING HOURLY IN CRYING OUT TO JESUS?
Stop trying at all costs to ESCAPE weakness.
Stop FEARING weakness.
Stop spending all your thoughts and ideas focused on avoiding weakness.
God may be battling against you—trying to bring you to weakness—in order to show His power to you and around you.
Everyone wants escape from weakness.
Ask yourself why?
Ask yourself how much time you spend working to ESCAPE weakness?
Ask yourself how much you FEAR being found weak?
Ask yourself if God is leading you into a season and area of weakness?
Sankie P. Lynch
Pastor of Families
www.nbchurch.info
www.nbfamilies.info
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