Value in Weakness

“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong,”

2 Corinthians 12:9b,10

Value in Weakness

Can I be real for just a moment? No theological dissertation, no philosophical meanderings…just a heart to heart talk? Woodridge Community Care, of which I am a part, does not have a grand mission statement; our intent is simple—to care for those within our community who are hurting. However, we live in a society that frowns on weaknesses and sharing them sometimes comes at a cost. Consequently, our nature is to hide our frailties behind a mask of strength and perfection. While many people are willing to share spectacular spiritual experiences (like the super apostles v.11), still today, most find it difficult to share their weaknesses. Yet, in 2 Corinthians 12, we learn that it is within our weakness that we see God’s strength.

I have a Christian friend who is a survivor of childhood abuse. She worked diligently for years in an effort to heal from unthinkable abuse and victimization. Some time ago, suffering from the exhaustion of her recovery work, she fell on her knees before God and pleaded for him to heal her, to take this terrible burden from her--to remove the painful emotional scars that remained. If my friend were personally sharing this testimony with you, she would joyfully smile as she told you of God‘s reply, “Roseanne, I have healed you through and through…I left the scars so others would recognize you.” Today, Roseanne proclaims the healing power of God’s love to women in prison. These hardened hearts respond to her witness because they recognize her emotional scars. If Roseanne chose to hide her weakness…these women would never see God’s strength. I believe that if you asked her, Roseanne would agree with Paul when he proclaimed, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong,” (vv. 9,10).

How motivating is that? All we have to do is allow God to do a spiritual work with our human experience. Not only will others see His power, but our weakness will be made strong. Hmmm….That’s real value!

Reflections

Is there an experience of pain that God is calling you to share with others? What is stopping you from “boasting” of your weakness so others may see God’s strength? Seek his will, listen as he directs you. Memorize 2 Corinthians 12:9a, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Begin today…give supernatural value to your pain, help someone else see Jesus.

Originally published in LifeLine Devotionals, 2005

Edited to add: News Alert! Little Miss Alaena Addison Smith was born on February 9th, 2008. Please stop by her Mom's blog to welcome this beautiful little gift! (And then, please come back to say hi!)


Day 2 (of 3) And, it's devotional time

Read Psalm Chapters 15-17

“Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you…Keep me as the apple of your eye, hide me in the shadow of your wings” Psalm 17:7-8

The Apple of God’s Eye

When I think of the emotions evoked by this phrase, I immediately think of a contemporary expression: Daddy’s little girl. Don’t you just smile and isn’t your heart warmed as you think about a father’s love for his daughter or his son?

For years, I longed to experience that kind of love; to really feel loved and protected, esteemed and valued, cherished and….chosen, again and again, each and every day…by my father. Sadly, this was not to be. Interestingly, the longing to be “daddy’s little girl” did not die with the death of my father; in fact, it grew with the absence of the hope I previously felt that maybe, just maybe…before he died, I might become the apple of his eye.

As I matured chronologically and spiritually, I sought comfort in the fact that my husband was a wonderful parent to our children. The wonder I felt as I watched him love and care, protect and guide, was felt at the core of my heart, but did little to ease my longing. I wanted to be loved by a dad like that. And then, nearly ten years ago, I discovered that my father was not in fact my biological father and my paternal parentage would never be revealed. I was broken; the years of expectation were now weighted down by the realization that I was more of an orphan than an apple.

Hopes shattered and defeated by the weight of this knowledge, I retreated. After weeks of intentional isolation and calculated self-pity, I soon became sick of myself! How could this sorrowful daughter be the apple of anyone’s eyes—so I ran…that’s ran to our Pastor’s office for some spiritual counseling. Unwittingly, yet immediately, I discovered that I had entered the “shadow of [his] wings” (Psalm 17:8). Finding refuge in God’s love for me revealed a previously obscured truth: as His child, I am the apple of His eye! He is my refuge (Psalm 16:1), He is my portion (16:5), He is my inheritance (16:6), He is my counsel (16:7), He is my strength (16:8), He is my joy (16:11). I had called out to God and he answered my prayer, He gave “ear to me…and showed me “the wonder of [His] great love” (17: 6-7). He removed my sorrow and replaced it with His joy. And I am kept “as the apple of [His] eye;” I am Abba’s little girl.

Reflection

Re-read Psalm 15-17. As you revisit these chapters, consider all that our Heavenly Father offers to his cherished children. Is there a longing in your heart that yearns to be satisfied? Run to your Heavenly Father, let Him “still the hunger” of your soul and be satisfied.

Today’s devotional was written by Diane Viere
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And, it's devotional time:

Read Genesis Chapters 20-23

“God Himself will provide…” Genesis 22:8

Mountaintop Faith

In all honesty, the test of Abraham’s faith, found in Genesis 22, has always left me feeling inadequate. How would I have responded to God’s directive? It wasn’t so much a question, for I knew the answer and doubted my ability to meet the task. It was only when I set aside my personal sense of inadequacy and looked more closely at this test of faith that I was able to see that my faith has not so much to do with my abilities, it only requires that I trust our God who is able.

I struggled with God’s command that Abraham must sacrifice Isaac; I wrestled with the necessity of such a test of faith. I avoided even thinking about this command as I could never justify the sacrifice required for any outcome; even if that outcome was an analogous precursor for Jesus. And, once I became a parent, this conflict intensified. Unintentionally, during these thoughts of uncertainty, I experienced a test of my own faith. Was I truly walking in faith? Could I, like Abraham, be called a “servant of God” (Genesis 26:24) or a “friend of God” (2 Chronicles 20:7); could I ever “please God” (Hebrews 10:38) if I could not be obedient without question?

As we review the entirety of Abraham’s life, we find that even the Father of Faith struggled with disobedience and self-reliance. Although God had promised that Abraham would be the “father of [many]” (Genesis 15:5), with a lack of trust in this promise, Abraham and Sarai manipulated the birth of Ishmael (Genesis 16). In Genesis 20, we read another time of disbelief as Abraham relies on his own maneuvering over God’s divine protection (11-13), tempting Sarai to enter into sinful deception as well. As you study these verses, do you see that Abraham was not always perfect in his faith? It was God who never failed - He is the perfector of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).

Abraham’s example of faith illustrates not only the importance of faith (in fact, faith is mentioned over 300 times throughout the Bible) it also demonstrates God’s provision of unmerited favor; his grace. Although we may not always see clearly, we can still have the faith of Abraham when we practice the kind of faith that Oswald Chambers defines as “deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.”

Reflection

Are you facing a struggle that seems unbearable and you doubt your ability to continue? Are there circumstances in your life that are causing you uncertainty? In the face of doubt, may we “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2)

Today’s devotional was written by Diane Viere
Reply to this message to provide us with thoughts or encouragements to share with the writers.To change your email address or to unsubscribe click here Copyright 2008