April 12
The Strength
of Weakness
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Daily Steps
When we face difficulties, our natural instinct is to hide our weakness and rely on our own strength. This passage offers a radical source of peace for the new believer by teaching that true spiritual power is found in acknowledging our weakness: Christ’s power is made perfect in weakness.
The peace in this paradox is twofold:
God's Grace is Sufficient: God’s response to our weakness is not judgment, but the assurance that His "grace is sufficient for you." God’s unmerited favor and divine help are perfectly tailored to meet your every need in the trial. You don't need more strength; you need His grace.
Weakness Invites Power: Acknowledging your inability to cope (weakness) is the open door through which "Christ’s power may rest on me." When you stop relying on your own limited strength, you create space for God’s limitless power. This is why the Apostle Paul could "delight in weaknesses" and declare, "when I am weak, then I am strong."
Your peace in difficulty is secured by giving up the struggle to be self-sufficient and embracing your weakness as the necessary condition for experiencing the transforming power of Christ.
Reflective Question
What difficulty are you currently trying to solve through sheer willpower and personal effort (your own limited strength)? How can you intentionally surrender that effort today, declaring that "My grace is sufficient for you," so that Christ's power may rest on you?
Prayer
Lord, I confess my pride and my struggle to hide my weaknesses. I thank You that Your grace is sufficient for me, and that Your power is made perfect in weakness.
I surrender my self-sufficiency today. Help me to truly delight in weaknesses so that I may fully rely on Your boundless strength and find perfect peace in the midst of this difficulty. Amen.
