God's Grace in the Midst of Our Weaknesses

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. 

(2 Corinthians 12: 10)

'Weakness' is not something that is preferred in general, let alone boasting about it. Weaknesses in our personality are thought to be factors that may bring us to downfall or to the last in the queue of this success-oriented world. People spend a lot of time and money to acquire or to increase physical and emotional strengths. We are never encouraged to be proud of our weaknesses, but to invest more on practising and utilising our strengths. Isn't it surprising to realise that an influential man of the society, and a well-read scholar of the 1st century, Paul the Apostle, claims that he will boast 'all the more gladly' about his weaknesses? 

Paul's claim comes as a result of what he had received from the Lord as he had written in 2 Corinthians 12: 10; a promise that helps a believer of Christ Jesus to acknowledge her/his weaknesses. And, going a step further from acknowledging, Paul says "I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses." Through the sufficient grace of God, Paul is assured of the Lord's 'power that is made perfect in weakness.' The verse not only reminds us that God's grace is sufficient for each one of us but also reveals that we will sense and realise God's power made perfect when we acknowledge our weaknesses. 

This is the promise that we have for today. Are we feeling that we lack the strength to lead a life of holiness? Are we tired of the efforts that we had put time and again to lead a life of example and have failed miserably? Are we worried that we are unable to sense and realise God's power that saves us in times of weakness? Does it seem that God's help is not there when we stumble and fall due to our human weaknesses? The answer is quite clear in what Paul has written. Today I may say that we have to first 'acknowledge' in God's presence our weaknesses, but the voice from the bottom of my heart pushes me further to encourage you to boast about your weaknesses! Probably this could be the weirdest thing we could realise, but surely this is the truth. 

Our acknowledgement of our weaknesses is a sign that we do not depend on our strengths but on God's. When we openly acknowledge (or even boast) our weaknesses we are giving God that space where He can make His power perfect and that Christ power may rest on us (2 Corinthians 12: 10). The more we acknowledge, the more we are sharing a testimony of God's strength. The more we boast of our weaknesses the more it glorifies God's grace that is sufficient and made perfect in the midst of our weaknesses. Therefore, just as Paul says, we could boast all the more gladly about our weaknesses so that Christ's power may rest on us. Today I would like to encourage you to be a follower of Christ Jesus who is ready to acknowledge or even boast of your weaknesses. Your humble boasting of your weaknesses becomes not only a testimony of God's grace in your life but also becomes an example for another person with weaknesses to see how God's grace is sufficient in your life of weaknesses. 

I pray that the power of God the Father, the love and grace of Christ Jesus the Son, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with all of us as we continue to seek God's help and realise His grace that is sufficient and power that is made perfect in our times of weaknesses. 

May God bless you. 

Yours in Christ,

"By Grace Alone..."