While the world works for strength, God’s way is altogether different

By Dean Collins

Training for power is something many athletes do. According to articles I have read and a few trainers I’ve met over the years, athletes often do both strength training and power training. Strength training has to do with overcoming resistance. Power training has to do with producing force quickly. In strength training an athlete might focus on how many times they can lift a weight, while in power training there is a focus on bursts of speed to move a weight or move themselves in a game quickly and efficiently.

Even though I am not an athlete in training, the athlete’s exercise routines interest me. I read somewhere that I am in the last stages of being called middle-aged, and I am holding on to that definition! As we age we need to do exercises that increase our strength so our bodies will allow us to pick up the grandkids, carry the groceries, and avoid as many falls as possible. Our physical bodies naturally get weaker as we age, so exercise helps work against this progression.

Perfect power

But in the spiritual realm, things work differently. In 2 Corinthians 12 Paul writes that Jesus told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Paul had just described a “thorn in the flesh” he had prayed God would remove. While Bible scholars speculate on what physical ailment might have been Paul’s thorn or condition, we are not given those details. This thorn or weakness was bothersome enough that Paul asked God to take it away, yet Paul’s condition remained unchanged.

Paul asked God to remove his ‘thorn,’ yet his condition grew worse.

How many times have we been in the same situation? It might be a health issue, a financial position, or something else undesirable that seems to impact the quality of our lives. We seek help from God and from others, and yet we receive little or no improvement. In times like this, frustration grows and we slip into feeling sorry for ourselves, maybe even hopeless.

Paul’s response was just the opposite. When the Lord told Paul, “My power is made perfect in weakness,” instead of pitying himself because of his weakness, he bragged about it.

Paul was aware that God had given him both visions and revelations of things that happen in heavenly places. Paul had a peek into what is unseen to the rest of us. Often if someone has inside information, they are proud they were chosen and might be tempted to brag on their inside connections. Paul considered that he too might have been tempted to do the same but God had allowed his thorn in the flesh so he would stay humble and rely on God instead of relying on himself.

Significant affliction

If we look back at chapter 1 in 2 Corinthians we are reminded that Paul opened his letter by confessing that he had experienced significant affliction and stress. He was burdened beyond his strength, he said, to the point he thought he could die from despair. But then he realized that God had allowed those challenges so that Paul would learn to rely on God and the power of the resurrection instead of relying on his knowledge, his insight, or his position as an apostle. Paul learned that all of his hope can and must rely on God and never on self.

Now at the end of Paul’s letter, he makes it clear that his weakness is his best asset because being weak allows God to work in ways that will always show the world his glory. When God uses us in our weakness, then he gets the credit. God’s power is made perfect in weakness.

Making a way

God has always shown the world his power through weakness.

Consider Moses looking back at the rapidly approaching Egyptians and having no ability to finish his deliverance of the Israelites. In his moment of weakness, God parted the waters, allowing the Israelites to get to safe ground while the waters crashed over the Egyptians.

God showed his power when Gideon was told to make his army smaller and smaller, even when his opponent was massive. God defeated the army with just 300 men holding torches, blowing horns, and breaking empty jars.

God showed his power when the beaten and lifeless body of his Son walked out of the tomb three days after his crucifixion. God specializes in demonstrating his power to overcome human weakness.

Don’t worry that your situation is beyond your control. When there is no other way forward, God makes a way. His grace is sufficient for you and for me. His power is made perfect in our weakness.

Father, today we choose not to force our way forward but rather simply to surrender our situation into your hands. We acknowledge that we are not smart enough or strong enough to change our situation. We often fight against our weakness, but today we boast in it knowing that your grace is sufficient and your power is perfect. Be glorified in our surrender today. We trust you to produce whatever outcome brings you glory. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Your time with God’s Word
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬-‭10; 1‬:‭8‬-‭11‬ ESV‬‬

Photo by Anastase Maragos on Unsplash
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