God’s Strength is Perfected in Our Weaknesses....

You’ve heard the verse, “God’s strength is perfected in our weaknesses”. Paul talks about this here in 2 Corinthians chapter 12. I can’t say I fully understand this truth, but I can give you two insights to help further your understanding of it. First, when we stop trying to fix the problem, and give up our pridefulness, it’s like emptying ourselves so God can fill us up. It’s like pouring out luke warm water in order to fill it with ice cold water. We need to get out of the way and let God do “His thing”. Secondly, Paul was taken up to the “3rd Heaven” (as he called it), so he got a glimpse of our future. He got to experience what those that believe will someday experience. It made him stronger. So much so, it refined his view of things so much, that when he suffered, was beaten, or persecuted for his faith, during these times of weakness, he was strong knowing what lies ahead. So when he was weak, he was hopeful and expectant of the reward he would receive. This made him strong. If you know the “end of the story”, if you know the outcome, when the tough times come, that knowledge, that expectant hope, will strengthen you. Strengthen you enough to endure, to tough it out. This might just be the “strength” he talks about when he boasts about his weaknesses.

1 This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know–only God knows. 3 Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know 4 that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.5 That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. 6 If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, 7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. 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. 8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 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 through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:1-8