Bible Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV “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. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Let’s talk about something we all can relate to—our weaknesses. We all have them, and they’re not always our favourite aspects. Like the apostle Paul, we often face aspects of our lives that we perceive as vulnerabilities or limitations.
For me, growing up, it was public speaking. Even today, it’s something I’d rather avoid if I can help it. The days leading up to any presentation were filled with a sense of impending doom. I’d worry endlessly about my mind going blank, making a fool of myself, or failing to answer questions. Meanwhile, I’d look at those who loved public speaking and thrived in that spotlight with envy. And for the longest time, I wondered why on earth God would hand me this particular weakness. I prayed, begged, and pleaded for Him to take it away, but no such luck.
Here’s the twist: This weakness, as much as it bugged me, forced me to lean on God every time I had a presentation. Since it was an area I couldn’t control, my trust in God’s ability to help me overshadowed my confidence in my skills. Funny enough, this trust consistently led to successful presentations. None of my worst fears ever materialised. The ironic part? I failed more often in areas where I thought I was naturally strong, just because I relied more on myself than on God. Lesson learned the hard way!
It’s not easy to admit our weaknesses, is it? We all yearn for independence and control in our lives. But these weaknesses are reminders that we are far from perfect and that we need to lean on God. While it may not be obvious at first, having weaknesses is actually a precious gift from God. It keeps pride from swallowing us and opens doors for us to experience the incredible power of God in our lives.
Pride, on the other hand, is something the Bible strongly warns against. It leads to destruction, disgrace, conflict, and humiliation. God is not a fan of it; Proverbs 16:5 makes that crystal clear, “Everyone who is proud and arrogant in heart is disgusting and exceedingly offensive to the Lord; Be assured he will not go unpunished.”
So, don’t see your weaknesses as a reason to beat yourself up or hide in shame. Instead, see them as gifts from God. These gifts protect us from pride and offer us opportunities to experience God’s grace and power when we rely on Him. Remember, God won’t give us more than we can handle. He has already provided a way out of every challenge we face (1 Corinthians 10:13).
For more on how to handle your weaknesses check out my previous post here.
