“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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9
- I can’t believe I overindulged this weekend. I need to get back on track.
- How could I forget to do what I said I would? I’m struggling to prioritize my time.
- I need to get back in the routine of (insert positive habit here)
- Here we are again. Why do I keep making the same mistakes over and over?
I’m not sure I could add up all the journal entries that give evidence to this line of thinking. Posts overflowing with regret, disappointment in myself, and feelings of failure and hopelessness. And while the intention and desire for growth may be good, the underlying negativity that’s evident is not. My thought process is not coming from a place of possibility, it’s coming from fear and feelings of incapacity from my weaknesses. But if I were to reframe this, I’d be able to see how God can use that weakness for good!
In Isaiah 40:29, we read that God “gives strength to the weary and power to the weak.” He doesn’t say we have to show up polished or put together enough to receive this good gift. What qualifies us to receive the Lord’s strength is our brokenness!
Our weakness shouldn’t cause us to fear the future or feel defeated as a lost cause. It’s a chance for us to see the Lord showcase his power in our lives! In today’s verse, Paul is the first one to say something along the lines of “Hey! I may be broken, but God can use every single one of my weaknesses as an opportunity to show me and the world His strength. Now I don’t have to be ashamed of my weakness because God’s going to use it!” (My words of course.)
We can’t undo our past mistakes, completely heal our broken promises, or clean ourselves up, but luckily we don’t have to! Jesus has already died on the cross for our sins and mistakes, and He’s out in front on our paths, just waiting for us to move forward. He’s waiting for us to throw off the baggage of our failed attempts and feelings of discouragement and step into the life He’s called us to - one filled with love, trust, and faith in His sufficiency!
Let’s be the women who throw off the past and move forward in our new lives today, accepting the strength and power the Lord longs to give our weary hearts. Let’s remember that our weaknesses can be used to highlight the strength of the one true God. Amen?!
Challenge: Is this the way you tend to look at weakness or setbacks, too? If so, join me in moving forward and reframing how we view our weaknesses - as opportunities for God to show His love and power. - Jantzen