WHEN I AM WEAK, HE IS STRONG

READ

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. 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 Cor 12:9-10

REFLECT

Many of us buy the lie that God can only use the strong and powerful. But today’s verses reminded me of one of BTTB’s faithful friends, Shannon, of the truth that all of us are totally dependent upon the Lord. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 saw her through a time when she had never before felt so weak.

SHANNON’S STORY

When I was pregnant with my first child, I had a major panic attack. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t stop shaking and crying for hours. Adrenaline was pulsing through my body, fueling my fight-or-flight response. It was hard to breathe. I felt sick to my stomach.

I was ashamed.

I remember thinking, “I’m a Christian. I shouldn’t have this problem.” I trusted the Lord, didn’t I? And if I did, why was my body reacting to stress this way? Why was I so weak and vulnerable?

Thankfully, with Christian counseling, I began to improve. But, unfortunately, after the birth of my second child, the struggle returned with a vengeance. This time, I was diagnosed with postpartum depression and anxiety. Again, the feelings of inadequacy and shame only made my depression worse. I remember feeling like a fraud. How could I call myself a Christian if my faith was so frail? How could I say that I trusted the Lord when I was so anxious? I wanted to be strong and useful to God. I wanted Him to be able to use me for His glory. But I wasn’t strong. I was weak and struggling.

That's when 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 became precious to me.

It was written by the apostle Paul. Like most believers, I consider Paul to be one of the great heroes of the Christian faith. I often think of him as larger than life. But the truth is, Paul wouldn't have been able to accomplish any of his great missionary work without the power of Christ working through him. In fact, Paul was an enemy of Christ before the Lord got ahold of him!

Just as I pleaded with the Lord to take my depression and anxiety away from me, Paul pleaded with the Lord to remove a “thorn.” Instead, the Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

The reality is, if I never struggled with the weakness of my flesh, I would forget that I am totally dependent upon the Lord. If I was as strong and powerful as I want to be, I would be in danger of thinking that I am accomplishing something for God by my own strength.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 continues to remind me that when I am weak, then I am strong—not by my own power, but by His alone!

RESPOND

Lord, thank You for bringing me face-to-face with my weakness. Thank You for showing me that my weakness is good when it brings me to Your strength. I could never be as strong as You, yet in Your grace and mercy, You offer Your strength to me when I rely on You. What a blessing! Amen.

REVEAL

Do you know someone struggling with feelings of inadequacy or weakness? Share 2 Corinthians 12:9 10 with them and remind them that in Christ, when we are weak, then we are strong!

Shannon now serves as Director of Nebraska Christian Classical Academy, a collaborative model school that allows her to homeschool her own children while also supporting other homeschool families who wish to classically educate their children. She says this new role has opened doors to teach, learn, grow—and to continue practicing daily dependence on the Lord.