Power in Weakness

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

Are you feeling weak or powerless? If so, then take comfort from God’s words to the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:9. In this verse and the surrounding passage which speaks of Paul’s so-called “thorn in the flesh” are several valuable lessons for Christians:

1. We are inadequate to face the difficulties of life on our own. Therefore, we need God’s help and his resources.

2. Human limitations and weaknesses provide perfect opportunities to experience the love and power of God. Therefore, we should call on the Lord in our time of need.

3. God’s grace is more than enough to meet every challenge that we face. His resources are unlimited.

Far too often when we feel weak or powerless we respond with fear, anger, despair, and/or desperation. Yet, this verse reminds us that God is an endless source of strength. No problem that we face is too great for him to solve. When we feel overwhelmed by our problems, we are in a perfect position to experience the salvation of the Lord who gives power to the weak and help to those in need.

Paul went on to say, “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.” (2 Corinthians 12: 9b-10).

Paul had the proper perspective. God’s presence in his life transformed the negative situations into occasions for praise. We too can praise God in the midst of trouble because God is greater than our problems and he will give us the grace and power to deal with them.

Guest devotion from Dr. Wilfred Graves Jr. Dr. Wilfred Graves Jr. is a Bible teacher, church executive, and Christian writer. He is the author of In Pursuit of Wholeness: Experiencing God’s Salvation for the Total Person (Destiny Image 2011). Visit Dr. Graves at www.wilfredgraves.com.