Strength in weakness

“…So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times, I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work in me.
2 Corinthians 12: 7b-10

We can understand this scripture at its fullest when we’ve been there….in a place where we feel weak, but still trying to press on somehow with what God has called us to do.

This is kind of where I’m at right now. In the last month, I’ve been experiencing lots of physical fatigue. There’s been a lot of sickness floating around and I feel as if I’ve been trying to fight it off for literally, an entire month now. I’m okay, it’s just been an adjustment to say the least.

Today, in a time of self-reflection, I recognized I was putting off getting started on some things until I was feeling better. I’m still fully capable of doing them, but I guess I’ve been waiting until I had more energy or whatever to get started. In all honesty, it’s not been because of a heart issue. My intentions for waiting were actually good intentions: to be able to offer my absolute best to what God has given me to do. But today, I was reminded about something. While getting adequate rest and feeling at my optimum health is important, sometimes, I will have to do stuff….tired.

When we’re faced with completing what God has called us to do, there are times when some of the very “reinforcements” we had planned on using can be taken away. (For a great example, just think about Gideon. Judges 6-7) Or, on the flipside, God can also call us to do things while carrying something that we weren’t planning to carry – notice Paul says the thorn he refers to was given to him and would not be taken away. Either way, we’ve got to press forward and not give up. Don’t stop and do it anyway.

We can absolutely know for certain that God will give us the ability, wisdom, confidence and peace to move forward if we will just remain willing and available. “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” II Cor 12:10b

LGR