by Jordy van Gaalen

Perfect in Weakness

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 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.
2 Corinthians 12:9 English Standard Version

This verse can feel so backwards. But I’ve come to find that much of God’s word has flipped my perception and my inner nature on its head. That which I strive for and that which culture teaches us is quite different from the Word of God.

It is not in us to openly express weakness. It is not in our culture to surrender our strength and strife. We don’t regularly admit shortcomings and faults and weaknesses.

But with The Lord as our God, that is exactly what we are told to do. Because our God is greater than our weaknesses, greater than our darkest sins, greater than our past. 

Without expressing our faults, we can’t fully accept grace. Without knowing how far we have fallen, without knowing the full extent of our own insufficiency, without recognizing how weak and helpless we truly are, we can’t know grace. The power of grace is both in the greatness of God and in the weakness of our human flesh and soul. To recognize the depth of our own sin and darkness and waywardness, is to realize how loving and gracious and merciful our Savior is.

By accepting our weaknesses, we can begin to see the grace of our Loving Father. 

Because it is God who has rescued and saved us. It is God who pulled us out of the pit. It is Our Lord and Savior who took our place, who died the death we were meant to endure, so that we could have the life we weren’t able to obtain. A life in relationship and communion with God. We have life and healing because of Christ and Christ alone. 

God’s grace is sufficient. It is all that we need.  

“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.”
2 Corinthians 12:10 ESV

The power of Christ is stronger than anything we could ever hope to produce in ourselves. 

“For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Through the power and grace and love of Christ Jesus.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado