“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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” II Corinthians 12:9
This is one of my own favorite and most encouraging verses of the Bible. It reminds me that as I rely more upon the strength of the Lord and not on my own, I am truly strong. It’s encouraging to me because I often feel weak because of sin and life in a fallen world. I often feel that so much is out of my control and that I am left exposed and vulnerable to it all. But then, God’s promise comes to me. He tells me that His grace is stronger than my weaknesses and that in His power I am made perfect.
I’ve always been surprised by the fact that St. Paul felt the same way that I do. He was a man of great spiritual strength and, nevertheless, felt weak. Indeed, he wrote this verse after the Lord refused to remove his “thorn in the flesh” to keep him reliant upon Him for all things. While we do not know what this challenge for Paul may have been, it was no doubt, troubling and difficult. God reminds Paul that even such a challenge is not greater than the strength of His grace. Paul believed these words even to the point of being glad that his personal weaknesses brought him to be more reliant upon God. and even to boast about his weaknesses.
God’s grace is ever present for us as fallen people in a fallen world. Even in our weaknesses we can feel encouraged and know that the power of God is upon us and that His grace never fails!
Know that you are loved!
Peace and Joy,
Pastor Kilian