Boast in Weakness
We’re all familiar with the word “boasting.” When you perform well in a game, you make a good grade, or you get a promotion at your job, a lot of us would admit that we are pretty quick to boast in those successes, right? The definition of “boast” is this: to talk with excessive pride and self-satisfaction about one’s achievements, possessions, or abilities.” While that is what the worldly idea of boasting is, I want to talk about how Christ calls us to boast and what Paul teaches us in 2 Corinthians.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 says, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect 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.” So this passage calls us to boast in our WEAKNESSES, not in our accomplishments and abilities. Now, I’m sure I know what you’re thinking, and it’s probably something along the lines of “I don’t like the fact that I have weaknesses, why would I want to boast in them?!” That is a valid question, and to that point I would answer you with this: weakness yields humility. Boasting in our weaknesses is recognizing our need for our savior. And when we can do that, our hearts become humble and obedient which allows God’s grace and power to work through us.
This is not always easy, of course. Oftentimes, we look at our weaknesses and things we lack, and maybe it brings up feelings of shame or guilt. Those feelings are valid, but they are not truth. In our humanness, we don’t want people to see that we’re broken. On the surface, we want people to look at us and see that we have it all together, that we’re strong and that we are capable of taking care of ourselves. But if we aren’t boasting in our weaknesses, then we are likely boasting in our own strength, telling ourselves and those around us that we don’t need help. We got this on our own, right? Wrong. No matter what we do or how hard we try, we cannot survive on our own strength and abilities. We need help. We need Jesus. Just like Paul tells us, we are called not only to recognize our weaknesses, but to boast in them. Because just like the scripture says, when we are weak, we are strong!
God is an all-knowing, all-powerful, mighty God. He is everything that we are not, nor have the ability to be. I think it’s a beautiful thing that through our weaknesses he is magnified, and we can really see and appreciate the vast difference between Him and us. Instead of seeing your weaknesses as a bad thing, shift your perspective. Look at them as a way for God to meet you where you’re at take you even further. Look at them as a way for us to glorify His name and say “God, even though I again have fallen short, thank you that your grace is enough. Magnify your name through me. When I am weak, I am made strong in you!”
May we rest in the fact that when we make mistakes, when we feel like failures, Jesus continues to love us THROUGH all of those weaknesses and mess-ups. He doesn’t give up on us! Let boasting in your weaknesses become your goal and something you long for. Let Christ take over! Because the weaker you get, the stronger you will become!
Challenges:
First, exactly as the scripture says, boast in weakness. I totally get it, it’s not natural for us to want to show off our imperfections. But when we choose to walk with Christ, we don’t have to be ashamed of our weaknesses, because with Him we are strong.
In order to boast in your weaknesses, you must DEFINE them. Evaluate each area of your life and pray the Lord reveals these to you. This will help open your eyes to your need of Jesus Christ as your savior!
Pray for humility. When we humble ourselves before the Lord and ask for His guidance, His power is made perfect!
Prayer:
Lord, we praise you for another day! Thank you that your mercies are new each and every morning and that we get the opportunity when we wake up to choose you and to be chosen by you. I pray that as we grow in our faith, we would stop boasting in ourselves and our accomplishments and abilities, but rather we would learn to boast in our weaknesses. Paul tells us that when we are weak, we are strong! I believe that over each of us today. Thank you that when we fall short, you still love us and that your grace still covers us. Let us never take for granted your gifts of grace and love! I pray that we live every day according to your will, giving you all the praise and glory. In Jesus’ name! Amen!