2 Corinthians 12: 9 “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Apostle Paul had been writing about how he had pleaded with God to heal him, so he could better serve his Lord. He was afflicted with poor eyesight and other bodily infirmities, all of which he found an impediment to what and how he wanted to be when proclaiming the gospel message to the Gentiles. Paul did however acknowledge, that his infirmities, kept him humble and from being too independent for God, which He must have believed he was inclined to be.
His view of his disability and need for Gods healing all sound very justifiable from a human standpoint, yet we find God had answered “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” In effect God had said, you don’t need healing of your infirmities for life and service for Me, and the grace of God would fill his need. I have had God answer me this way, and have not always immediately appreciated the import of what God was saying. The love of God is profound, and to think that He was interested in me, enough to say, I will be right there, and my power will not only make up for all your lack, and carry you through; it will come in an ever-growing abundance, the more you trust in Me, and rely totally on Me in life and service. I take heart and am encouraged, by the number of times, I have noticed that the people with some weakness or physical handicap, when they are Gods’ person, show His power the best, because they could not accomplish at the level required, without total dependence on God. It is so easy to be self-sufficient, and unaware of how weak we really are, and not be able to represent God in all that we do, unless He is in charge, and it is the Holy Spirits who is filling us with His spiritual fruits.
Dear God, I pray that I will remember and learn from the apostle Paul, and come every day to the place, where I can say “gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that Your power may rest upon me.’ I also pray that I be brought to a place where I can be glad for my infirmities, because when I allow, they reveal Your power.
My attitude has often not been one of acceptance or to be comforted, by the message, that all I needed to be able to face and survive the situation was the, all sufficient grace of God. So often I wanted everything to resolve, and return to the times, when no sickness or infirmity had intruded into my life! I have allowed a scanty infilling of grace, peace and power, but now I long for an abundance of the sweet loving grace of God. 1 John 1: 9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”