[Faith-talk] Fw: whenever I am weak, then I am strong

[Paul]

Thanks to Carol Taylor for this devotional originally compiled by someone named LuAnn.  Will post a much longer one about Easter later.  paul
----- Original Message ----- 
From: Carol Taylor 
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:; 
Sent: Saturday, March 30, 2013 11:14 PM
Subject: Fw: whenever I am weak, then I am strong



----- Original Message ----- 
From: LuAnn Mudrak 
To: LuAnn Mudrak 
Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2013 10:19 AM
Subject: whenever I am weak, then I am strong


Friends

 

Paul, a man who confuses many of us, states in II Corinthians 12:9-10, ".but he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.' So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ;  for whenever I am weak, then I am strong."

 

Okay, I can see you're all lining up to shout the praises of bad things going on in your life: divorce, death, loss of a job, feeling isolated, illness, anger, etc. It's hard to understand what Paul is talking about. Do we really feel that God's grace is sufficient? I DON'T THINK SO. Certainly not all of the time.

 

Paul went through situations in his life that we won't ever go through. In fact, in II Corinthians 11: 23-27, he lists what has happened to him:" I have been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again. Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked."

 

Well, I don't know about you, but HE WINS! Nothing in my life stacks up to Paul's list. He would get the bonus points.

 

After all he's been through, however, Paul believes in God's grace and wants to boast about his weaknesses. You know why? He believes that he depends on Jesus more when things are going wrong. He knows Christ will give him the power to go on. Now that's faith.

 

In Romans, Paul is again the speaker and writer. In 8:26, Paul says, "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express."

 

On this week where we think about Jesus and His death on the cross, remember that He suffered in ways we never will, FOR US. In our weakness, we can call out to Him and even if we don't have the words to say, we can cry out and know He will understand. He will hear you.

 

In your time of trouble, know that Christ can help you survive whatever it is and make you strong.

 

LuAnn