How do you respond to your weakness?

This week I have enjoyed some incredible conversations with my Spiritual Formation and Self-Counsel class. As part of our discussion, we have considered Paul’s testimony in 2 Corinthians 12. Here, he reflects on his own weakness and God’s strength in the midst of it. Two simple thoughts came out of yesterday’s discussion related to this question, How do you respond to your weakness?

 

Paul’s Testimony

The Apostle Paul describes an incredible story about going to heaven where God dwells (2 Cor 12:1-4). While there, he experienced sights and sounds that he was not permitted to share with those of us on earth. This was fourteen years prior to writing this book. In the time since being transported to paradise to experience what he did there, Paul had undergone incredible suffering. He explains some of the suffering just prior to the text where he tells of this trip (2 Cor 11:22-33; cf., 2 Cor 4:7-12; 2 Cor 6:3-10). His recounting of what had happened to him over the past fourteen years with a spirit of gratitude demonstrates that what he saw in paradise alongside the grace of God in weakness propelled his faithfulness.

Fourteen years ago, prior to all the incredible suffering he underwent, after going to paradise to visit in heaven and experience what was taking place there, Paul asked God to take away his weakness. We are not sure what the weakness was because Paul does not tell us. Whatever it was, it was significant. So significant that he asked God three times to take it away from his. Yet, Paul realized that God had given it to him to help him remain humble, faithful, and dependent upon God’s grace in life.

Paul explains that Jesus told him that He would not eliminate Paul’s weakness, but instead, Jesus would provide him all the grace he needed to have strength in it. Paul writes:

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor 12:9-10)

Paul explains that grace is provided in weakness in order for the strength of Christ to be manifested in his life. His response: he will be happy to be weak in order that the power of Christ would rest upon him.

 

First Thought: God provides grace that strengthens us in the midst of our weakness.

Paul understood clearly what Jesus explained. Jesus provides His strength to us in our weaknesses. As He does, we can live in the power of Christ. This power means that when Paul is weak, he is still strong because of the power of Jesus Christ. So much so that Paul’s conclusion unsettles me on first read. He is so satisfied to live in the power of Jesus Christ through his weakness, that he says, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake.”

Pleasure. Really? His satisfaction with the power of Christ in his life is so strong that he takes pleasure in these things that are clearly not pleasurable. This defies fleshly reasoning.

You may be wondering alongside me, How can he take pleasure in these things?

He can take pleasure in these non-pleasurable things because through these, the power of Christ demonstrates itself through them. In Paul’s weakness through these tough things, he enjoys the power of Christ giving him strength. He recognizes that God’s grace actively provides for him in the midst of these tough circumstances. As it does, Paul grows in his relationship with Jesus and manifests the characteristics of a disciple.

However, one other aspect here, do not miss the close connection with what he experienced fourteen years prior in heaven. Whatever he saw there – which he does not tell us the specifics, but does tell us that eye has not seen or ear heard the things which are prepared for us in heaven – clearly provides part of his motivation even in the midst of these incredible trials. In fact, this experience fourteen years prior must have also helped build his greater theology that, when expressed, taught: “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor 4:17-18).

Succinctly speaking: he considered his weakness and all the trials that he suffered under as light affliction because of what he anticipated would be next in heaven – which God had let him see in person.

 

Second Thought: How do you respond to weakness?

Now for the million-dollar question: How do you and I respond to weakness?

You might say, “Well, Kevin, I have not seen what comes next. I have not been to heaven. I do not have Paul’s perspective.”

In return, I would say to you the same. I do not know what he saw. Just as you, I was not there. However, I know that whatever he saw provided a rich foundation for him to believe what Jesus said to him. Jesus told him that Jesus’ strength would be made perfect in Paul’s weakness. Paul believed Him.

Believing Jesus is our challenge as well.

I do not know your weakness today. Of course I am aware of a few of my own. Yet, we are not participating in a spitting match. Your weaknesses may be much greater than mine; let us assume they are. But regardless of where your weakness or my weakness measures on the “weakness meter,” God’s grace measures more.

The power of Christ in your weakness is there to propel you to even greater things for the glory of God.

A future realization of what only Paul has partially explained helps settle our hearts in the midst of weakness now.

God promises to provide you grace in the midst of your weakness today.

Where is your weakness? In your body? health? mind? emotions? Does it manifest itself in fear? timidity? nervousness?

Whatever it is and no matter the severity of it, look to Jesus for His power to give you strength in it. In addition, embrace God’s promised future for you as His follower in Christ. Everything works out in the end. All is made well. God provides a future that is past what you can imagine. Between here and there, trust Him for the strength along the way.

One other note… many of us seek to hide our weaknesses, are embarrassed by them, or hate to admit them. Understanding this passage helps us get past our own pride, admit our own personal weakness, and move forward with the power of Jesus Christ.

 

 

Image Credit Jackson Simmer

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