Perfect Weakness

2 Corinthians 12:9   But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.

While many have tried to ascertain the specific nature of the Paul’s thorn in the flesh, I am grateful that God deigned to leave it unknown. That makes the verse, and Paul’s stance, much more applicable to all.

Do we not each have some sort of prickly thing that irritates us no end?

And for most, is that thing not some sort of weakness?

For me, it is my gullibility which gives me the talent of being swayed by most anything that comes along.

It usually takes me awhile to recognize something to be out of kilter. I am slow on the uptake, especially when it comes to quick-minded repartee. It is easy for people (who have such a bent) to get over on me with their strong words and powerful emotions. It is usually not until I am out of their presence that I think of a “good comeback.” It is then I can recognize the sideways path that particular thing could have led me on.

Ah! But it is to the glory of God that such occurs!

How? you ask. Aren’t you a supposed leader in the Body of Christ?

Yep. Kind of contradictory, don’t you think? Leaders are supposed to be strong and strong-willed; not given to weakness.

Well, maybe so, in the eyes of men.

But, this is the way the Lord has dealt with me. And though I have sought Him many times to restore to me the mind I had when I first began to serve Him, He has seen fit to keep me–and to use me–in this weakened state.

In this place, and from this place, it is easy to see that it is not my own strength, but the power of Christ that resides in me. (Sometimes I forget that, though. It is then I will fall flat on my face and look pretty stupid to myself and those who are with me at the time.)

I can do nothing apart from Him whom my soul loves. My weakness magnifies His strength. My weakness is shown to be absolutely nothing in the light of His glory.

Allow me to share a personal story that brought all this home to me.

I was an aide for a 9-year-old boy who had the mental capacity of a 3-year-old. His physical deformities were many, and only added to the difficulties I had in trying to teach him just the basics of living. One day, driving to work, the Lord broke my heart when He asked me, “Can you see My perfection in Joshua’s imperfection?”

Can you see His perfection in your particular weakness?