Weaknesses Display Gods Strength

 Have you ever taken a deep look at your life and thought, "I am just plain terrible at living for Christ. At ever turn, I find myself falling prey to my same weaknesses and/ or allowing physical pains to grab hold of me." If you have had these thoughts (or something similar) then you are in good company. Most Christians (and people in general I think) tend to be hypercritical of themselves. Sometimes it is for good reason and other times it is not. But I think in the writings of Paul we have a good guide to these kinds of situations.

In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul writes about a thorn in the flesh that he had prayed would leave him a few times. This thorn was presumably some sort of physical ailment. In verse 9 he gives this description of the answer he got regarding his healing,

     "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."

This is an interesting answer to Paul's prayer. This flies in the face of prosperity teachers and those who state that if you have enough faith you "will" be healed. It also flies in the face of the modern attitude of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with the mentality of overcoming and doing everything you must to combat trying circumstance. However, when this attitude is applied to one's walk with Christ problems invariably result.

When we are facing our weaknesses and become frustrated by them, this is not the time to lose hope or just give up and give in. We need to stop relying on our own strength (as if it is actually good enough) and submit fully to Christ as Lord. Sure, you may sin and will fall immensely short. But it is the grace of Christ that governs our eternity, not our "effort."

This of course is not a license to sin freely as if there are no consequences. Our intentions matter. The point of this thought is on the fact that even though we display weaknesses constantly, it all the more shows the mighty power of God in Christ because his grace can even cover the immense garbage we spew. This view must be balanced by understanding this is not about freedom to sin but the freedom to submit to the strength of another. The freedom to realize there is one whom has lived better and can guide us to better. The concept of better is found in full immersion to the grace of Christ.

As far as physical ailments, the same mentality applies. God may chose not to heal you because his power of internal change through the work of his Holy Spirit may produce a better result in those around you. If you maintain that mentality of full submission to the authority of Christ, God will use that to reach others. They will be amazed at your faith despite your physical circumstances. BUT we all know that it is not your individual strength that helps you keep the faith but rather the strength of the saving God (which the onlooker will realize once they come into relationship with that saving God).

It is my hope that this "pensee" will inspire a change of nominalism (adhering to Christ by name alone) to that of true fellowship. We can rest calmly in the strength of the infinite God because by comparison we are truly weak. I'd rather stake my hopes on the infinite God than on my own strength because one never fails and the other....well I can tell you by experience, it has failed many times over. Grace and Peace of Christ to those who read this.


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