And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
— 2 CORINTHIANS 12:9 —
Igor Bodun: Grace Bible Seminary | Ukraine
How do weakness and power work together? At first glance, this might seem like a ridiculous question. Doesn’t weakness sap one’s strength until there is nothing left? However, one of the most successful and influential ministers of the church learned that weakness and power work together in a significant way. At a moment of great weakness, Paul prayed three times for the Lord to remove the source of his weakness (2 Cor. 12:8). Paul mentioned that he suffered from “a thorn in the flesh” (2 Cor. 12:7). Like Paul, we need to recognize that the Lord brings struggles and weakness into our lives so that we will learn about His power. Despite his prayers, God did not remove this thorn but rather gave him a right understanding of weakness as a tool in the hand of a sovereign God. Through his weakness, Paul learned about God’s power. He learned about God’s power to protect him from pride (2 Cor. 12:7); His power revealed God’s sufficient grace (2 Cor. 12:9a); and His power was shown through Christ who dwells in him (2 Cor. 12:9b). Looking at the contemporary evangelical churches in Ukraine, there are many who do not understand God’s sovereign power and, as a result, do not respond correctly when they encounter various kinds of weakness. Whether it be poor health, low wages, lack of education, opposition to the church, or some other weakness or struggle, they do not respond like Paul. But like Paul, we need to recognize that the Lord brings struggles and weakness into our lives so that we will learn about His power. Let us always remember: God shows His strength the most by taking the weak and making them strong.
