Strength in Weakness

# Strength in Weakness You know that moment in a doctor's waiting room. The magazines are old. The clock is loud. Somebody calls a name and it isn't yours, and you're relieved and terrified at the same time. Maybe you've sat there for yourself. Maybe you've sat there holding somebody's hand, someone you love more than your own life, and you'd trade places in a heartbeat if you could. If that's where you are today, I want you to hear from a man who prayed hard and didn't get the answer he wanted. Listen to Paul: "By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively. Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me. He has said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me. Therefore I take pleasure in weaknesses, in injuries, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong." (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) Here's the first thing. God allows weakness into our lives. Notice how Paul says it: "there was given to me a thorn in the flesh" (2 Corinthians 12:7). Given. Not slipped past God's notice. Not an accident in the machinery of the universe. Paul doesn't pretend it's pleasant. He calls it a torment. He says it came from the enemy's hand. And still he says it was given, and he tells you the purpose: so he would not be lifted up in pride. That's hard. But it's better than the alternative, which is a world where your suffering is random and nobody is minding the store. Your diagnosis did not catch heaven off guard. So here's what you do with that. Stop asking only "Why is this happening?" and start also asking "Lord, what are You doing in me?" Those are different prayers. The first one can go in circles for years. The second one opens a door. Second thing. His grace is always enough. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). Sufficient. Not extra. Not stockpiled for next year. Enough for today. That's why you feel like you can't handle it. You're trying to carry Thursday's fear on Tuesday's grace. God gives dying grace to dying saints, and He gives Tuesday grace on Tuesday. He gave manna one morning at a time in the wilderness, and He hasn't changed His method. So here's your application. Tonight, before bed, pray for tomorrow only. Not the scan results. Not the six months after. Just: "Lord, grace for tomorrow." And then get some sleep. Third thing. We find real power when we stop fighting Him. Look at the turn Paul makes: "Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me" (2 Corinthians 12:9). He quit wrestling God and started leaning on Him. And that's when he wrote that beautiful, backwards sentence: "For when I am weak, then am I strong" (2 Corinthians 12:10). This isn't pretending you're fine. Paul begged three times. Beg. Cry. But then open your hands. So here's the application, and it's simple. Tell one person the truth this week. Not "I'm okay." Say, "I'm scared, and I need you to pray for me." Weakness admitted out loud is where the power of Christ comes and rests. Church, our Savior didn't dodge the hospital ward of this world. He went to a cross in weakness and came out with the keys of death in His hand. He knows the waiting room. He is in it with you. Let's pray. Father, some of us are frightened today. We ask for healing, and we ask boldly. But whatever You give or withhold, give us grace sufficient for tomorrow. Let the power of Christ rest on us right here in our weakness. In Jesus' name, amen.