"Where does your strength come from?"
by Heather Hart
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. 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 12:9-10
Boasting in our weaknesses is not something that comes natural to many of us. Delighting in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties sounds even weirder. Can you imagine rejoicing when you failed a test, or when someone calls you names or spreads rumors about you? How about being happy about not understanding the math problem that your teacher wants you to solve? Does it sound silly yet?
Let's look at it a different way, when you fail a test can you rejoice in the fact that life doesn't revolve around one test score? Can you rejoice in the fact that the teacher is offering extra credit? Instead of focusing on the negative, look for the positive! So you failed a test, Jesus died for your sins! So your friend started a rumor about you, Jesus knows that truth, and His opinion really is the one that counts! So you don't understand the math problem, you can ask for help. Even if you never understand the math problem, God knows what direction he wants you to go in life, maybe it doesn't have anything to do with algebra (don't tell your teacher I said that...math is used in everything we do... you know what I mean though).
When we are weak, then we are strong. When we acknowledge that we can't do it on our own, then we open the door for God to help us. His grace is enough for us.
Reflection:
Do you look at the negative in situations, or do you delight in the positives?
Application step:
Today when things don't go your way, look to God for your strength. Ask God to help you find the positive in the situation, and trust in His power.
Prayer:
Father God, thank you for being my strength. Help me to remember that your opinion is most important, and help me to delight in my trials. Nehemiah 8:10 tells me that the joy of the Lord is my strength. Let it be so. Help me to find joy in you, and to delight in any circumstance. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
