How God’s Power is Perfect in Our Weakness

Culture teaches us to stay strong and overcome weakness because it just isn’t pretty. Yet, in our heavenly Father’s Kingdom weakness takes on a whole new meaning. Because God’s power is made perfect in our weakness.

“How strong are you?” I used to ask my children this when they were young. Both my son and daughter answered by striking a pose to show their biceps.

But on my own journey from child to adult, I learned culture’s definition of what makes a person strong. 

And I learned how weakness comes in many shapes and sizes. 

Like how weight lifting proves my arms lack physical strength. Or, how low self-esteem, anxiety, or discouragement labels me a weak soul. 

Also, how failure to excel in a class, understand a concept at work, or carry strong opinions defines me as weak-minded.

“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 when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:9, 10b)

Paul’s visions and thorn in the flesh described in this chapter kept him from boasting in himself. He had endured many hardships and persecutions. Still, he discovered strength was found in his weakness.

While people often look down on weakness, God’s children look up to Him to make us strong.

What Culture Says…What God Says

Culture tells us to strive for independence. God says, Depend on Me.

Culture calls people weak who struggle to juggle all the things in life. God says, You don’t have to struggle to juggle anything. In fact, if you are doing the juggling act, you aren’t resting in Me. 

Culture calls us weak unless we compete in the workplace and go for the jugular. God says, Find your identity in Me. Seek community, not competition.

Culture says we are weak if we need help and we can’t pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. God says, Look to the hills, where does your help come from? From Me the God of heaven and earth. (see Psalm 121:1)

Culture says we are weak if we need help and we can’t pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. God says, "Look to the hills, where does your help come from? From Me the God of heaven and earth." (See Psalm 121:1) Share on X

So God’s calling all perfectionists, all type-A personalities, all pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps people and every get-it-done man, woman, boy, and girl. 

And He’s calling all children of God who keep trying and striving to obtain the things of God on our own or living the Christian life in our own strength.

3 Reasons God’s power is made perfect in our weakness.

(1) Weakness points to our need for a higher power. 

If we are always strong, we wouldn’t need God. If we are never weak, never fall short, never fail, or always have it together, we wouldn’t need our heavenly Father who is all powerful or a Savior who’s strength is made perfect in our weakness.

(2) Weakness reminds us that we have limits. 

Humans are limited. The heavenly Father is limitless.

Maybe we think we have to be the strong one and keep everyone on track. Yet, who’s there for us, who’s the strong one for us? 

The heavenly Father.

Or, we grow tired and weak from feeling like we never measure up, feeling like we are never enough. Here’s the thing: Jesus is enough so we don’t need to strive for enough.

(3) Weakness reveals our insufficiency. 

Many times we take pride in thinking we are self-sufficient in our job, in life, and so on. Yet, we are never sufficient on our own. Not only do we need other people, but also God’s “grace is sufficient” for us. Then we face each day with renewed strength.

Our New Definition of Strong 

Let’s do this exercise to further grasp our new definition of strong.

Insert your name in the blank and read it out loud.

The Lord’s grace is sufficient for _________, for His power is made perfect in my weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

For when I am weak, then I am strong. 

(Based on 2 Corinthians 12:9,10b)

Insert your name, The Lord’s grace is sufficient for _________, for His power is made perfect in my weakness. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (see 2 Cor. 12:9-10) Share on X

In what ways can you trust God’s power over your weakness?

Featured images courtesy of Friday’s Forever on YouTube.

Last week’s article, Jesus is Enough and That’s Enough for Me.

Sometimes I participate in these link-ups: Let’s Have Coffee/Embracing the Unexpected (Grace & Truth).

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© 2024 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved