But the Lord said, “My grace is all you need. Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power.” So, I will gladly boast about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can stay in me.
2 Corinthians 12:9 ERV
In the preceding verses, Paul explained his ordeal of suffering, referring to it as ‘a thorn in my flesh’. Meanwhile, he did not fail to identify the purpose of such a terrifying experience. He affirmed that it was “so that I would not think that I am better than anyone else”. So, I would like to us to consider God’s word unto Paul, which made him exclaimed in the end that he will gladly boast in weakness.
The first thing I would like to point out is that your experience has something to teach you. Paul identified the purpose of suffering. He needed to learn how to remain humble, we also do. So, if I may ask you, what are you seeing and hearing God teaching you through your suffering? In what way is what you are going through at the moment meant to refine you?
The truth we considered earlier in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 on how God brings us comfort in our trouble is manifested in today’s verse. God does not delight in our suffering, but He is glorified when in our weakness we give Him the room to work in and through us.
Your Weakness is of Necessity
Your weaknesses or limitations are an integral part of who you are and play an important role in shaping your life experiences and character. Instead of trying to hide or ignore our weaknesses, we should acknowledge and embrace them, recognizing our need of God instead of strength in ourselves. Additionally, this also encourages us to rely on God’s strength and grace to overcome our limitations and accomplish His goals.
When driving a car, two people cannot control the steering at the same time; one person must release control to the other. But when both begin to drag the steering while in motion, they will crash. Likewise, God wants to manifest His power in our lives, but the first demand is for us to step down from the throne of our heart and let Him reign.
As humans, we often think that we need to be strong in ourselves to have breakthrough, however, the Lord said to Paul, and I believe He is saying to us all today: “My grace is all you need. My power can only do everything completely when you are weak.”
God wants us to empty ourselves of our self and strength, so that He can fill us with a capacity and strength that no one else can provide. When there is nothing and no one else but God, that is when you would realize that God is all you’ve ever needed and all you would ever need.
