I WILL BOAST IN MY WEAKNESS



copyright(c) April 2015 Daneille Gray Snowden

All Rights Reserved

 

I WILL BOAST IN MY WEAKNESS

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong."  2 Cor. 12:9

Right off, I will throw out the KEY OBJECTIVE from the Apostle Paul writing this potent message:

“SO THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST MAY REST UPON ME!” 

All for the "...sake of Christ!" Halleluiah! This encourages me, pulls me through my pride that wants to run the other way when weakness outshines any of my strengths. Just after I am insulted intentionally and unintentionally. As well as when the calamities and lastly the persecutions slap us down. Honestly, I do admit; I ask God just once can I show people I am 'smart' and or can do this or that really good? But, humility seems to win over; amazingly though, when we surrender this factor to our God - He takes our weakness and turns them into something quite amazing. Better than anything I could conjure up within myself. God is so good at that! (wink, wink)

Yet, almost daily either through ourselves or others; this weakness message is pounded by the fear of um, well being WEAK! Ouch?!?!

 "The market wants power to escape weakness in leisure, but Christianity offers power to endure weakness in love."[J. Piper]

T.V. commercials, info adds, and well most that comes out of Hollywood; preaches the message of: "...you got the power." " With this concept;  the true message (of the Word of God) is lost."

As Christians we are of course are filled with the power that comes through Christ. How it works is like opening the shades in your room to allow the sun to brighten it; we become broken, and opened for Christ's strength to be used to touch lives that will impact them for eternity. It's not a temporary work God does within us, as we face difficult times. If we allow it, it will change us from glory to glory! [I.E.- from my glory to God's!] As well, this can affect many others for eternity too!

"But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Cor. 3:18

 

God isn't saying; "The power of Christ is perfected in my bad choices." That is NOT the hardships Paul was writing about. Although, we will have to reap the consequences of the bad choices we make; the Lord will use them to teach us valuable lessons. In this passage of 2 Cor. 12:9; the emphasis is: Insults / Hardships / Persecutions / Calamities.

"They are circumstances and situations and experiences and wounds that make us look weak; things we would probably get rid of if we had the human strength." [J. Piper]

I Cor. 4:12-13 "When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; 13 when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things."

"These are circumstances and wounds that are hard to bear and that we can't remove either because they are beyond our control..." J. Piper

 BEYOND OUR CONTROL!

THIS IS WHEN:
*The weakness of others spouts off and drives a knife deep in our hearts.
*Sickness hits the breadwinner of the family, causing him great pain and poverty has come.
*Spat at, called names and maybe even physically harmed by those that (are intimidated and hate God's people who walk close to Him).
 We shake our heads, and usually ask ourselves and even God; what did I do to deserve this? Nothing, first of all; life happens. Sickness comes; and yes, we do have a healing God, yet even though we take care of our bodies it comes. Evil is in this world and when individuals chose to live a life of sin and or even allow their mouths (and actions) to say hurtful things, countless get hurt.
As I have written many times though, it's WHO we are in the midst of all of this. It's how we show others, we are a child of MAJESTY!

Maybe right now, your heart is asking how do I get to this point? How can I truly surrender, even when I am hurting (physically, emotionally, financially and so on)? For me, sometimes it is instant as I bask before the Throne of God...pouring my heart, crying my tears to Him. As well as giving my Lord my ear to listen to His healing words. Sometimes, I have to run daily (x2, x3...etc. a day); cause the pain, or fear, loneliness, memories of the hurtful deed done stirs in my mind - digging painful wounds within my spirit. Something amazing happens, a healing of this infliction happens.
It's tender, but there is a healing that has nothing to do with me (just WHO I run to). As the weeks, or even years go by I notice that I am a different person. I kinda like her too! (smile) The newer me is tougher (handling situations more with ease), more patient (although still growing), faith has exploded (being quite connected to the SOURCE OF LIFE). The scar that I know is there, or even scars (plural) have made me into a different person, stronger (as physical scar tissue is) and hopefully pliable to the Hand of my Lord.

My brother, and or sister; if you are facing insults, hardships, persecutions or calamities RUN to Jesus.  Cry out to Him, be patient and listen. Call a friend, a pastor whomever you trust and ask them to pray with you. the gentle Holy Spirit will turn you to Paul's declaration in our theme passage...and through this weakness you too will declare: I will boast in my weakness, ...

“SO THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST MAY REST UPON ME!” 

 In Him,
Daneille



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 Philippians 4:11–13    

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be acontent. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and bhunger, abundance and cneed. 13 I can do all things dthrough him who strengthens me.

 

Christ's Power Is Made Perfect in Weakness  (link)