powerful weakness: a uniquely christian oxymoron

“My grace is sufficient for you…”

Don’t forget the second half: “...for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

How beautiful it is to be witnesses to a powerful grace that is revealed in its truest, rawest, most organic form in WEAKNESS!  In human frailty.  In despair.  In trials.  In doubt.  In fear.  Hallelujah!

“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.  Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.  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.  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.” (2nd Corinthians 12:7-10)

I am content with weaknesses? I am content with insults?  I am content with hardships?  I am content with persecutions?  I am content with calamities?

So many times I have found myself skewing that verse; as if I should be content because “it is what it is”.  As if God himself were somehow “content” with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.  That I ought to throw up my hands in surrender to the current state of affairs because “God’s in control anyway”.  

No. Just, no.  

First: The Creator, the Prince of Peace, the Mighty God, the Savior, the Champion, the Holy One is diametrically opposed to such things.

Second: God is in control.  Always.  Absolutely.  100%.  But, what a thinly veiled theological excuse for not pursuing commands to be content, to be holy as He is holy, and to rest in a faithful God.

I need to throw up my hands in surrender (indeed!) -- but not to the current state of affairs and not to dismiss it as already being “handled” by God.  I need to throw up my hands in surrender to Christ and engage the weaknesses that have been placed there (or at the very least allowed) by God.

The Bible speaks to the receipt of contentment being accomplished with and alongside obedience and service to Him. (Job 36:11)

We have a choice: Do we try to attain contentment through a passive understanding of grace?  Or do we crucify our weak selves to obedience and service of the Lord in communion with a conviction of an active POWERFUL grace that is sufficient?

“But godliness (aka obedience, pursuing holiness, service, spiritual discipline, dying to self) with contentment is great gain…O man of God...Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.  Fight the good fight of the faith.  Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.” (1 Timothy 6:6, 11-12)

Pursue. Fight. Take hold.  The Spirit of Christ in us -- our helper -- is just as active today as he ever was.

“Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.  As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct…” (1 Peter 1:13-15)

At the risk of sounding self-help-ish: Embrace the suck!  

Don’t do it because you think “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”. Although you learn a ton in seasons of hardships and weakness, Salvation and Grace is NOT a quid pro quo with the Lord about how much we suffer or grieve or say and do the “right things''. (Thank you, Jesus!!)

“...knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ…” (1 Peter 1: 18-19)

Embrace the suck because His grace is sufficient for you as you journey through it.  For it is only when we are traversing the weakest, lowest, most difficult terrain that His power is perfected, His steadfastness is known, and His deliverance is glorified.

“He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.” (1 Peter 1:20-21)

I put my faith in Jesus

My anchor to the ground

My hope and firm foundation

He'll never let me down

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” (Psalm 91:1)

Grace, so undeserving.  Contentment, so sweet.  His name and promises, so infinite.

Amen?  Amen!