Devotion 5/15, I am weak, but thou art Strong
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Why would someone like Paul celebrate being forever saddled with some painful struggle? Because Christ’s power becomes most obvious in those areas where believers are weakest. The word translated as “perfected” here is teleitai, which mostly refers to completion or accomplishment. The focus is on something being achieved, not having flaws removed. This is the same root word used by Christ when declaring “it is finished” from the cross (John 19:30).
This reveals several truths about how God works in the worldly lives of Christians. First, God is willing to make use of Satan and his demons to accomplish His own purposes. Their attempts to harass God’s work and servants can become part of God’s strategy to accomplish His exact goals.
Second, God’s answers to prayer are always subject to His overall will. He may answer “no” to a request to relieve a believer’s burden, whether or not that burden comes from a demonic source. If the suffering is helping a Christian to be more dependent on God, it may be accomplishing in us exactly what He wants.
Third, it shows us that God’s primary concern for His children is not a mortal life of ease and leisure. His first goal is that we trust Him. That means allowing Christ to be strong in places we are weak, and not to resent Him for allowing us to experience that weakness.
Lord, I seek you. In this world, you are my strength in this world of sin. I pray for your Holy Spirits presence in all I say and do. I pray for patience, kindness and wisdom that I may serve you as our Savior served you. I give all praise, honor and glory to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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