Grace in Our Weakness

Transcript

Dr. Nic Williams: 0:37

Welcome to be on Sunday and day 28, anchored in God's promises. This month we've been walking through some of the most powerful promises in scripture, truths that remind us we are never without hope, never without help, and never without God's presence. Today's verse is one of these promises that cuts right against how our culture thinks. It's second Corinthians 12, nine, 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. Paul wrote these words after describing what he called his thorn in the flesh. Now, truth is we don't know exactly what it was. Some think it was a physical ailment. Paul had been through a lot. Others think it was a recurring hardship that he experienced. Whatever it was. Paul prayed three times for God to take it away, but instead of removing the thorn. God gave Paul a promise. The promise is this, my grace is sufficient for you. That reminds us, sometimes God doesn't change our circumstances, but he changes us through the circumstances. Now, the word grace here isn't just about forgiveness. It's God's active help, his strength and presence in the middle of weakness. Sufficient means enough, not lacking, not barely scraping by, but fully adequate. God is saying, whatever you face, my grace will meet you there. You'll never come to the end of my supply. Think about that. Your challenges may feel overwhelming, but his grace always meets the measure. Now, we usually think God works best through our strengths, our skills, our gifts, our best days. But here's the upside down kingdom truth, God's power shines most clearly through our weaknesses. Why? Because when we're weak. We can't pretend. It's us holding everything together. People see God at work. His strength gets the spotlight in those moments. It's why he says, my power is made perfect in weakness. Now, Paul's response in this moment is surprising. He says, therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses. I don't know that you've heard many people say that, right? That's not natural. Most of us hide our weaknesses. We cover them, we excuse them, or we pretend they're not there. But Paul says, I'll boast in them because when I am weak, Christ's power rests on me. That word rest is beautiful. It's the idea of pitching a tent or dwelling or covering that God's power sets up camp over our lives. When you and I, when we admit our weakness, there's an old story about a man who carried water into two clay pots. One was perfect, the other had a crack. Every day, the cracked pot leaked water along the path. The pot felt useless, ashamed of its weakness, but one day the man showed it. The flowers growing along the path, flowers that have been watered every day by the crack. The weakness became the channel for beauty. That's how God works. He doesn't discard our weaknesses. He uses them as conduits for his grace. So where do you feel weak right now? Maybe it's your health. Maybe it's your emotions. Maybe it's in your ability to handle the pressures of work or family, whatever it is, this promise says God's grace is not just enough in theory, it's enough for that. Instead of hiding your weaknesses, bring it to light. Ask God to let his power rest on you there. Here's your challenge today. Write down one weakness you're facing today. Then underneath it, write this promise word for word. My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Us carry that reminder with you. Let it shift your focus from what you lack to what God provides. Let's pray. Father, thank you that we don't have to be strong enough. Thank you that your grace is more than enough and that your power shines through our weaknesses. Help us today not to hide our weaknesses, but to surrender them so that Christ's power may rest on us. In Jesus' name, amen. Thanks for joining me today. If this episode encourage you, share it with someone who feels like their weaknesses, disqualify them, remind them it may actually be the very place where God wants to show his strength.