Today’s Encouragement is 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NLT “Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. [9] Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”
My power works best –
In weakness? Really Lord? Aren’t we supposed to always be: Victorious? Conquering everything? Having everything figured out? Got all the answers? Through prayer and Your presence in our lives… free from all weaknesses? Evidently Not!
Paul’s deeply personal confession of this thorn in his flesh is tremendously vulnerable. He’s admitting to God and believers through the ages, that … try as he might… presumably through prayer, fasting, pleading, begging God ‘to take it away…’. God said ‘No.’ This painful weakness, which was possibly a sin or an illness, allowed him to realize – He was not God, God knows more than we do, God is strong and in complete control, and we are weak!
My friends, when we struggle in prayer, begging God to take it away, as Jesus did in the garden the night he was arrested… remember the end of His prayer … ‘nevertheless, not my will but Yours be done.’
At some time, perhaps each of us will come to this point in our journey of faith, where we come to accept that the weaknesses, which we have fought so hard to overcome, is intentionally designated to keep our spiritual pride under control… and our need for God’s grace, clearly prevalent in our hearts and minds.
Father God, You can do anything, including allowing our weaknesses to demonstrate Your strength. Thank You for Your Grace, cleansing us from all sin and weakness, that we may come to You in our honest weakness and be embraced by Your Power, Grace, Forgiveness, and Love.
Your Grace is enough
Matt Maher
Today’s Encouragement 