He said to me: “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness: Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 2 Corinthians 12:9.

Many of us are familiar with the first part of this verse, but we usually stop after the first phrase about God’s sufficiency. Not too long ago, it hit me that we often do not go to the words that stood out to me: power is perfected in weakness.

The ESV Bible adds the word “my” before power. The KJV says “my strength is made perfect.” Whatever version you use, the meaning is still the same. It is not our power, but God’s that is at work in us during times of weakness. He will do it when we can’t.

I have seen Him much more clearly in my time of physical weakness, and worship in a much deeper way now than ever before.

But it’s not just that God is giving us power. It’s that He is giving us HIS power, which is never-ending, and that it is made PERFECT in weakness. Those words really jumped out at me. According to the Oxford Dictionary, the words perfect or perfected mean to make something free from faults or defects or to bring it to completion. So in this context, God’s all-encompassing power is brought to completion and made perfect, or without blemish, in the middle of our weakness! That’s an amazing thought!

You may be at that point right now – a time where you are saying “I just can’t do this. I don’t have the physical or mental strength. It’s just too much.” But look at the last part of the verse where Paul boasted so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. If we take the weakness and walk through them with Christ, His power will shine through us!

We all go through paths of weakness in our lives, whether it be from physical illness, or weakness to sin (which includes many things). We can’t get through those times without focusing on the most important thing – HIS power. If we lose our focus on God, the weakness that is prevalent in our lives will take hold and become a stronghold that the enemy will use against us, which will make it harder for us to focus on the good things and best things in our lives, which is Jesus. Don’t just moan and groan, telling everyone about your troubles (to get sympathy), but talk about them, so that the power of Christ may dwell in you, putting the focus on God and giving Him the glory for what He is doing in your life. You will be amazed at how many people will respond!

From ministry friend Pam Rehbein