2 Corinthians 12:9 “…. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
How’s your strength meter? Physical strength. Emotional strength. Mental, Spiritual. We all need some kind of strength to make it through our days. It seems God likes putting us into positions that make us aware of our need for strength. Why? As long as we remain confident in our own abilities, we will live within the confines of our limited stockpiles.
And although those stockpiles may be adequate for today, they more than likely will not be enough for tomorrow’s battles. So how do we keep our stockpiles filled? How can we best ensure that we have adequate strength for a future that could thrust us into wild uncertainty?
It starts with seeing our need. Our world is changing in unthinkable ways at unthinkable speeds. Institutions we once relied on for security and stability are crumbling before our eyes. People in all walks of life we’ve looked to for inspiration have fallen short. In coming days, it will not be the “survival of the fittest” who prevail, but those who learn to trust God in absolutely everything.
So maybe we should be looking at all our troubling circumstances as opportunities to deepen our faith and increase our trust in the very source of our strength. God wants us to do more than survive. When we come to him with our desperate needs, we not only find strength to overcome, but love that heals. And grace unveiled.
Paul learned to “boast” in his weaknesses. He discovered the persecution, insults and hardships he faced in life only drove him closer to Jesus. Recognition of his inability opened the door for God’s ability. And so much more.
I don’t know where you might be, but if you’re like me, Lord give me strength, has been topping your prayer requests these days. I’m asking God to help me see my needs as Paul viewed his “so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” I can’t think of a better way to prepare for the future than by taking every opportunity to develop divine dependency.
So let’s embrace our troubles and gain access to the Lord’s unlimited stockpile. Oh God, give us strength.