Don't Wish your Weakness away

Written by: Maddie Joy Fischer

“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.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Weakness isn’t something I tend to boast about. I don’t like feeling weak, and I especially don’t like admitting the feeling of weakness to others. I would rather feel and be seen as strong, capable, and independent. If you agree, you are in the right place reading these words.

In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul shares about a “thorn in his flesh,” or weakness in his life. He goes on to say that he asked for it to be removed three times in prayer. Instead of the thorn being removed, He is provided the promise of sufficient and sustaining grace. Instead of taking his pain away, something better was provided in the midst of the pain. 

Paul comes to an awareness that it is through his weakness that God’s power is ultimately revealed in his life. He begins to boast in the very thing he once wished away, trusting that a good work was being done through it. 

There is so much to learn through this story. Since His word never changes, the same things are true in our lives today. 

In the midst of our weakness, His grace is sufficient.  

In the midst of our weakness, His power is perfected. 

When we boast in our weakness instead of wishing it away, His power rests upon us. 

When you find yourself tempted to wish your weakness away, take a moment to consider what Jesus might be trying to reveal to you through it. You might be wishing away the very thing He wants to use to take you deeper into relationship and reliance on Him. When you pray pain away and it remains, don’t believe the lie that you have been forgotten. Cling to what you know to be true about His unfailing character and faithfulness. 

Jesus is good and He only does good. While this promise does not exempt us from the reality of weakness, hardship, and pain, it gives us a redemptive promise to hold onto as we are led through trials. This promise is that He will not waste our weakness. He will use the very things we once wished away to display His power and glory in our lives, sustaining us by His grace along the way. 

At the end of ourselves is where His best work begins. In Christ, your weakness is your greatest strength as it teaches you to trust Him above all else. To rid us of self-sufficiency is one of the kindest things He can do, even when the process hurts. 

Don’t be ashamed of your weakness, instead boast in it so that the power of Christ will rest upon you! In your weakness, He is strong.