September 25, 2019

When St. Paul was struggling with some vexing and apparently intractable difficulty, he prayed 3 times for God to remove his burden. This was God’s answer. “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

It’s hard to imagine a more counter-intuitive stance than Paul’s embrace of his weakness. And he’s not just embracing, but advertising (boasting of) his difficulties. This doesn’t mean that you have to be a walking talking Debbie Downer (Saturday Night Live 2004). Nor does it mean that you have to make a full time job of inhabiting your problems. And it also doesn’t mean that you don’t have gifts to share and strengths to celebrate.

It just means that your weaknesses (yes, you have lots of them, just like I do) are the hot spots of God’s activity in your life. In Christ, your weaknesses are not problems to be solved or covered up, but the very places of God’s power and grace.

“Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength, so you never forsake those who make their boast of your mercy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.”  (Proper 18 – BCP p. 233)