Breaking Free From Weakness

Acknowledging weakness is viewed negatively by the world. I was always taught and told to be strong and  independent, not to show weakness. However, scripture says‘…God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish.’ (1Corinthians 1:20 NLT). God allows trials, temptations, and afflictions, or ‘thorns’ in our lives to strengthen our faith in Him. As we go through our weaknesses, the Lord is waiting for us to seek Him and rely on His divine strength and power, not our own.

The apostle Paul pleaded with Jesus three times to take away his troubling affliction, the thorn in his flesh. Jesus did not remove his thorn. Instead, He told  Paul “…My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9a). In response to Jesus’s words, Paul said he would gladly boast about his weaknesses so Christ’s power would rest on him. Paul trusted the sufficiency of the Lord’s grace and experienced Christ’s perfect power. Through boasting about his weaknesses, Paul gave Jesus, the source of his abiding strength, all the glory and not himself. Paul knew it was because of the power he had through Jesus’s grace that even in weakness, he was strong.

Jesus said “…Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart,  because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 NLT). Like Paul we can also experience Christ’s all sufficient power and give the Lord the glory by boasting about our weakness. We can break free from fear of weakness due to life’s struggles, temptations, trials, or any ‘thorn’. We don’t have to do it alone, in our inadequate strength. Our weakness becomes the place where we experience Christ’s power. So, acknowledge your weakness, turn it over to the Lord and trust in His divine grace and power. The Lord may not remove your thorn, but He has promised, “…Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” So, we say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.” (Hebrews 13:5-6 NIV)

Abba Father, when we are faced with the thorns of life, help us to seek you as our ultimate source of strength and power. Help us to break free from fear of our weaknesses and see them as opportunities to experience your perfect power and glorify Your name. Thank you for always being with us and for being our strength. To You and you alone be all glory, honor, and praise. In the mighty name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.