My favorite passage in scripture is 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.  We find that the author Paul is in a Roman prison cell writing to the church in Rome.  He is shackled to a Roman guard and most likely in a small cell with not much space in it.  Leading up to these verses Paul writes about having a “thorn in his side” and about how he has constantly pleaded with God to take it away from Him.  What I love about the specific passage is that instead of taking away Paul’s suffering God responds in a way only God could:

But he answered me, “My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.” So I will celebrate my weaknesses, for when I’m weak I sense more deeply the mighty power of Christ living in me.  So I’m not defeated by my weakness, but delighted! For when I feel my weakness and endure mistreatment—when I’m surrounded with troubles on every side and face persecution because of my love for Christ—I am made yet stronger. For my weakness becomes a portal to God’s power.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

God’s power find its full expression through our weakness.  We were never meant to simply “deal” with our problems ourselves.  We were never meant to sweep them under the proverbial rug so they are “out of sight out of mind”.  

Our perspectives, thoughts, and actions have the power to trap us and shape who we become, but they also have the power to make us into the image bearers we were always meant to be.  Will your perspective make you a slave to your short-comings, or will it make you a true child of the King who can move mountains, break down barriers, and destroy evil in this world?

We must bring our problems, our illnesses, our thoughts, and our struggles before God.  He alone can handle them.  He alone can help us.  He alone will deliver us.

When you take your fear before God He gives you courage.

When you take your anger before God He gives you peace.

When you take your anxiety before God He gives you a sense of calm.

When you take your addiction before God He gives you freedom from bondage.

When you take your racism before God He gives you new eyes to see the beauty of people made in God’s image.

Our weakness can only be changed into a source of strength when it is given to God.  Otherwise it will consume us and keep us from truly being the children of God we were meant to be.  Children of God who represent Jesus Christ to a world who desperately needs it!

May we learn to delight when we have weaknesses, not because we want to glorify them or stick with them, but because they gave us the opportunity to change and become more like Jesus.  More loving, more accepting, more calm, more peaceful, more giving…Our weaknesses give us a constant reminder that in order to be more like Jesus we need to constantly, daily, hourly, surrender to His power and direction in our lives.

May you choose this day to make your weakness a portal for God’s power!  Only then will this world know Christ in you.