Boasting in Our Weakness (#973)
What did Paul know about life in Jesus that made him boast gladly about his weaknesses? Wayne and Kyle landed on this verse toward the end of the previous podcast, and Kyle wanted to circle back to it again. Paul not only tolerated difficulties in his life, he actually came to a place where he could delight in weakness, insults, hardships, persecution, and difficulties. Somehow, he knew that at his weakest was when God was at his most powerful, and that became a source of great joy for him. What did he know that we have yet to learn?
Podcast Notes:
- The video recording of this podcast
- The Valley of Vision Puritan prayer
- Read Wayne's newest book, It's Time
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I have held close to my heart the Valley of Vision prayer for many years. Thank you for sharing it.
Soooo , is the word “weakness” interchangeable with the words trial, tribulation or challenge? Last time my daughter was in the hospital for the third time in two months, I was crying my eyes out in the hospital’s chapel and once again Jesus showed up with strength I did not know I had.
I can go through months where I know Jesus is with me but don’t “feel” his presence but I never fail to feel his presence when I most need him. In the middle of my pain, weakness and despair, He never fails to show up. So I remembered Paul saying that he delights in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties and something just clicked in my heart.
So, do you want to have an easy going life which you will eventually call “boring” where you just barely make it by knowing Jesus or would you be willing to go through all those horrible things Paul talks about if that means you will get to know Jesus better? For the first time in my life I’m staring to feel a bit of excitement to think that challenges and painful life experiences will actually show me who He is. No pain no gain, right? At least that’s where I am right now regarding II Corinthians 12
The word is interchangeable because they all mean different things, but in the sense that God still works in whatever causes us pain or concern to bring about his glory, yes. I don’t know that I’ll ever welcome pain and suffering into my life, but when it comes, I’m ready to find Jesus in it and let him use even the works of darkness to draw us close to himself and transform us a bit more. That’s why every writer of the New Testament talks about what God does in our suffering to bring about perseverance, character, and hope. I love your spirit of adventure when such times come. That will serve you well. That said, I’m so sorry for the pain your daughter is going through to be hospitalized so often. May God hold her close to himself and sort out what he wants to in her.