Is Our Weakness Really Our Strength?

for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.(2 Cor. 12)

I have read this line many times; and it has alway been a source of positive  information. I have even preached a few sermons on the subject of weakness the leads to strength.  

But yesterday I heard it again, in someone else’s sermon, and it prompted me to write.

Being weak is not something that most of us tend to boast about.  Let alone fine pride in. 

So I invite you to think about how this line, written by Paul, can be true, logical,

or even desirable?

In this culture, of competitive prowess, how can we dare to champion the goal of weakness?

Or, is that what Paul means?

To answer that question I look for a commentary on 2 Corinthians 12:10 and found these thoughts for Jon Bloom ( the Executive Director for Desiring God Ministries Articles for Outreach & Missions. Should You Earnestly Desire to Prophesy?)  from August 1, 2010:

“Paul viewed himself as the foremost of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). Apart from God’s grace in giving him the free gift of Christ’s righteousness, all of Paul’s achievements were “rubbish” (Philippians 3:8-9). Paul knew the impotence of self-righteousness (Philippians 3:6-9). He knew who had brought him to faith (Acts 9:5), called him to be an apostle (Romans 1:1), sent him to make Gentile disciples (Romans 1:5), and called him to suffer for his sake (Acts 9:16). Yes, Paul knew that he worked harder than just about everybody. But he knew that it was not him, but the grace of God that was with him (1 Corinthians 15:10).

And one reason he knew this so profoundly was that Jesus had disciplined him. Knowing how Paul’s indwelling sin might respond to the power and fruitfulness he would experience, Jesus gifted him with a “thorn in the flesh,” a “messenger of Satan” to harass him (2 Corinthians 12:7). It would be a continual reminder to Paul that he depended on Jesus for everything…..This opened up a world of insight to Paul. God showing his strength through weak things was laced all through redemptive history, culminating in the cross.

That’s why Paul said, “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness” (2 Corinthians 11:30). He even went beyond that: “For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10)...Here’s the secret: the more aware you are of God’s grace, the more humble, prayerful, thankful, patient, gracious, content and joyful you will be. And you are more aware of God’s grace when you are weak.”

Now, that I have your juices running through your brain, I am wondering.  How is it that you would have God’s grace work in you?

More tomorrow.

⁸Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, ⁹but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.(2 Cor. 12)