“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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
When my first child was a baby, I thought I was strong enough for any parenting task. So, when I read that some store-bought baby food wasn’t very nutritious, I decided to make baby food at home – and I chose to make one of the most nutritious types of food I could: a paste from Great Northern beans. But my plan was a disaster. After I spent an entire day working on the concoction (and breaking a blender in the process), my daughter took one bite of the paste and promptly spit it out. She refused to open her mouth to eat anymore. Far from taking pride in my strength as a mom, I was humbled to discover my weakness in action. Then I went to buy baby food at the grocery store, thankful for God’s grace. I’ve grown spiritually every day since then, as I discover how I need God’s grace in plenty of other situations.
When we’re weak, we’re most acutely aware of our need for God. Our weaknesses strip away the illusion of self-sufficiency. They remind us that we are not in control and that our abilities, talents, and strength are limited. In this humbling place, we become open to the fullness of God’s power and grace. Our weaknesses create space for God’s power to work in and through us when we trust him. Our weaknesses are not obstacles to God’s work. Instead, they are the very means by which God most clearly displays his power.
It’s important to realize that God’s strength doesn’t just compensate for our weakness; God’s strength is made perfect in it. This doesn’t mean God is waiting for us to be weak so he can step in. Instead, it means that when we embrace our limitations, we position ourselves to experience God’s unlimited power. Our weakness becomes the stage on which God’s glory and power are most visible.
This Bible verse encourages boasting about our weaknesses. We’re conditioned to hide our flaws, cover up our vulnerabilities, and present ourselves as strong and capable. But this verse shows us that instead of being ashamed of our weaknesses, we can boast about them because they invite Christ’s power into our lives. Boasting about our weaknesses means acknowledging them honestly and even embracing them. It means we don’t need to pretend we have it all together or rely on our own strength to navigate life. Instead, we can openly admit our need for God and allow God to work through us in ways that go beyond our natural abilities.
This is not an invitation to dwell in defeat or to give up trying. It’s an invitation to shift our focus. When we’re no longer preoccupied with our limitations, we can focus on God’s sufficiency. We can stop worrying about whether we are good enough, strong enough, or capable enough. Instead, we can start resting in the truth that God’s grace is sufficient.
When we feel weak, inadequate, or overwhelmed, it can be tempting to think that God can’t use us. But it’s precisely in those moments of weakness that God is able to do his greatest work in us. Our frailties become opportunities for God to reveal his power. One of the most important lessons we can learn in life is how to depend on God’s grace. We aren’t meant to carry the weight of the world on our shoulders, nor are we meant to face life’s challenges in our own strength. When we try to do it all ourselves, we quickly find that we’re insufficient. But when we rely on God’s grace, we find that it is more than enough to sustain us.
God’s grace doesn’t just get us through difficult times; it transforms them. When we allow God to work in our weakness, we experience God’s strength in new and profound ways. The very challenges that we thought would break us become what deepens our relationship with God and makes us more like Christ.
Let’s pray:
"Dear God, thank you for the gift of your grace. I acknowledge my weaknesses, struggles, and limitations. It’s so easy for me to try to rely on my own strength, but your Word reminds me that your power is made perfect in my weakness. Help me to trust in your sufficiency, even when I feel inadequate. Show me that my weaknesses are opportunities for your strength to be revealed. Teach me to boast in my limitations – not because I enjoy them, but because they make room for your power to rest on me. Help me to stop striving in my own strength and to rest in the knowledge that your grace is enough for me. Thank you, God, that you are always present with me, empowering me and working through me. I place my trust in you today and every day. Amen."
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Whitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com, on Facebook, and on X/Twitter.
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