Word for Word 2/23/22
Vicar Abraham Faugstad
Strength in Weakness
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
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. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
How can I be strong, if I am weak? Isn’t this an oxymoron? What in the world is Paul talking about? How can my weakness be a strength? How can the troubles I am going through possibly be good?
The Apostle Paul addresses a question that many of us have - how is God working through difficulties in my life for good? If anyone had good reason to ask this, it was Paul! In 2 Corinthians 11:23–27 he describes a long list of difficulties he has endured: he had been imprisoned, flogged, stoned, beaten, shipwrecked, been without sleep, food or drink, and much more! Hopefully, we are not in close competition with Paul.
Paul saw the good that came from the difficulties in his life. In those times of weakness, he had to rely on God. Paul recognized that everything was in God’s hands. And what a comfort this is! The God who loved the world so that He gave His only begotten Son to die for us is the same God who is taking care of us now. Jesus showed us the greatest act of love by laying down His life for us to pay for all our sins. If He has shown us the greatest act of love, who better to trust in during our times of weakness!
Our Lord says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” At times, God will use difficulties in our life to help us realize that we are not in control and utterly helpless. He wants us to rely on Him. When we forsake our own efforts and rely on God, then we are strong. We are strong because we are relying on the almighty God! This is why Paul can say, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
It can certainly be difficult to understand how God is strengthening us when we go through difficult times. Yet, through trials we realize that we are entirely reliant on our good and gracious God. And in those moments, we can rejoice with Paul, “For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Vicar Abraham Faugstad
King of Grace Lutheran Church ELS, Waukon and Trinity Lutheran Churches
