For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10
My immediate response to this verse is often, “Great for you, Paul, but speak for yourself. Most of us haven’t gotten there yet. If I even think I’m insulted, I am ready to strike back for fear of being overrun. People leave me out or dislike me because of my faith, and I cry in a corner. If the car breaks down or something goes wrong at work, I feel helpless.”
Then I have to stop and take a few cleansing breaths. I look back on what I’ve just written, and realize that my reactions are centered on my feelings. Fear. Rejection. Helplessness. Anger. I am not a fan of feeling weak, but I follow a God who is mightier than my feelings.
It is when I have centered my response on my feelings and not my being that life seems to go from bad to worse, and yet I do not always recognize God knocking on my door or ushering me into another room full of grace. Saint Paul does not say, “When I feel weak, then I feel strong.” He uses the be verb. We are strong when we are going through what we might think is hellish, because first, Christ became weak in order to lift us to the Father, and second because the only way to see the goodness of God is to lay down our physical arms and stop fighting in the flesh.
The world cannot get this, because the world is focused on strength and the worldly mindset is one of conquest. But Jesus did not break into our hearts. He died, literally died, because for all the strength and might and power we think we have, we cannot overcome even one sin.
We cannot invite Jesus in just one time, and assume it is enough. Paul had to be struck blind to see God’s mercy, and had to remind the same church to whom he wrote this letter of his thorn in the flesh. The human condition is one of brokenness and repair and brokenness again. Until we are with Him in Heaven, we are bound to this, and we cannot throw away the body and buy a new one. We must let God bring us to grace each time, and God always leaves us just enough strength to make the invitation.
God of power and might. Open the eyes of my heart that I may put my trust in You always, particularly when I am brought low. Help me to know you are present in hardship and help me to carry my burdens to You. In the blessed name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
