The Power of Weakness

“The Power of Weakness”

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

And God has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power

is perfected in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rater boast about my weakness, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”

                When you have found yourself weak and maybe even vulnerable? Were you in hospital and receiving medical treatments, approaching surgery, or even when you realized that you had lost time and consciousness? How did this physical weakness make you feel? That is, did you feel a loss of control, out of sinc with the world, or even did you sense that your hope was fading?  Often when we experience moments of fear, or uncertainty, when one is vulnerable or uncertain about life’s challenges we realize we are weaker than others and we do not like the implications. We are weak. But in this weakness can we find some truth to the relationship God has with us through our faith? Are we able to communicate with others about what God calls us to say and do? Or are we merely giving up because the world only likes super powers and not super weaknesses?

                In the scripture reading above, Paul states that he is ‘well content’ with his weaknesses. How could Paul be well content or pleased with weaknesses? What does Paul mean when he writes, “When I am weak, then I am strong.”   Yet our world tells us that we need to believe in ourselves and all will be well. This thinking has entered the church and the church has been weakened and will remain so until and unless we become strong for the sake of God working in our lives. But we must first recognize our weaknesses including the fact that we have come to believe that weakness is bad and power is good. Shredding all our weaknesses and becoming powerful is not the answer. God desires to display His power through our weaknesses. Yet are we willing to do this? Are we willing to embrace the very weaknesses we detest in order to realize that it is through these weaknesses, that God is able to demonstrate His power through us.

                Our world tells us “Embrace your strengths and overcome your weakness.” But in scripture we are encouraged to embrace our weakness and through them, we are to experience a power we could never know otherwise. (p. 21)

                In this series of reflections on Schaffer’s book (mentioned below) we will look to experience God’s power in one’s life so that even in our weakest moments we will receive God’s power and strength to carry on.
REFLECTION:

1.       Have you experienced a lot/some/little/ no power in your life?

2.       Are you able to identify ways which make you feel weak? Have you tried to overcome them?

3.       Personal weakness= Opportunity to experience God’s power

What do you think/ feel about this statement? Is it hopeful, doubtful, confusing or suspicious?

4.       Whatever you are thinking/ feeling bring these thoughts to God and pray!

PRAYER:

Loving and Risen Christ you have called me to serve your church and yet many times I feel so weak and tired I wonder if I do any good. Enable us to realize what gives us life on a regular basis and help us to name these things. Hear us O God as we call to you and praise you Amen.

Reflection based upon Dan Schaeffer. The power of weakness. Discovery House Publishers, 2014, p.