I'm Weak; Are you?

Referenced Scriptures:  2 Cor 12:9, Phil 4:7, Mark 7:13

 "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 Cor 12:9)

This scripture has always been such a source of hope to me. Paul is laying it all out here and I can almost see the brokenness that he had while he penned these words. You can conclude that Paul was fully aware of his weaknesses and that in those same weaknesses he saw the amazing power of God in all its splendor. 

Many of you know that my older brother went home to be with the Lord in 2010. During this time I really had the chance to experience the depths of my own weaknesses. There were many well-meaning believers that attempted to encourage and console in various ways and one of the “encouragements” that just didn’t help (or did it?) was when I would be told, “Just be strong.” I recall just losing it one day with God in prayer and saying, “Be strong, REALLY!? How do I do that?!” I was at a point where the events going on right in front of me couldn’t be just nicely tucked away and dealt with later. At the height of this cry to the Lord I was lead to 2 Corinthians12:9 once I read these words that peace that passes all understanding began to stir inside of me (see Phil 4:7). I continued on and the  prayer went like this, “Lord, please help me, I can’t handle this anymore. I don't know how to BE STRONG when all I feel is weak…” the response I received floored me He said, “I never asked you to be strong in this specific situation, others did. I have always asked that you come to me with all your cares. I know you can’t handle this and now that you understand you can’t handle this; can you please let me carry you through this?” 

You see God showed me something life-changing that day; there are times we do need to be strong in the Lord and stand firm, not waver, and be militant soldiers of the Kingdom. On the other hand there are also times where brokenness is beautiful. Some of the most intimate and precious moments that I’ve ever had with the Lord where alone, locked in my room, and completely broken in my weakness before God in prayer.  These moments don’t come by being strong they come by being completely transparent with yourself and with God. Allow yourself to just talk with God. We tend to get all caught up on religious traditions (see Mark 7:13) that we forget to just talk to God. Get alone with God and pour yourself out to Him. You may feel like you are being weak but it’s in these times that God’s power can be seeing so vividly and so perfect.

Take Care & God Bless,

-E