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. 2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV
Three times, Paul asked God to remove the thorn in his flesh. Instead, God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
What Satan sent as adversity to discourage Paul, God used to drive His servant Paul into a closer, more dependent relationship with Himself. In his weakness, Paul became a channel for Christ’s power to take over and work through him.
We will have moments when we feel fragile. The key is not to rush the process but to draw on God’s strength through His Spirit and through His word, knowing that what we are experiencing is not happenstance but part of God’s purpose in shaping us into a vessel that is useful for His Kingdom. Less of me leaves room for more of Him.
Weak that we might be strong; this is the paradox of grace.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your grace, your strength, and your power in my life. Remove what is frivolous and displeasing in your sight and fill me with yourself to overflowing. In your name I pray, Amen.
Thought: “If you wake up feeling fragile, remember that God is not, and then trust him to be everything you need today.” C.S. Lewis