Exit Us – Day 13
BIBLE READING PLAN
WEEK 3 – EXITING OUR INSECURITIES
DAY 3
In our readings this week, we’re focusing on the key idea from Exodus chapters 3 & 4: “Overcoming insecurity starts by being secure in who you are in Jesus.” Today, we look at Paul’s response to weakness in 2 Corinthians 12.
Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:7b-10
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Reflection:
We often wait to feel strong before we act, when the truth is that weakness is actually advantage when it comes to spiritual things.
- Is there a situation where you are waiting to feel strong before acting, rather than trusting God power?
Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:7b-10
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Reflection:
When it comes to living for God, we can often think that weaknesses and struggles hold us back from truly living for God. “If only I wasn’t struggling with that, or if only my circumstances were different, then I could truly make a difference.” Paul was suffering from a “messenger of Satan” (vs7), which he asked God three times to remove. Surely God would see that it was holding Paul back? But instead of relieving Paul’s suffering, God said “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (vs9). God was showing Paul (and us) a truly deep spiritual truth: Our weaknesses makes us trust in the perfect source of strength. And when we do that, we will be truly free to live for Him.
- Is there a weakness or trial are you walking through that you feel is holding you back spiritually? How might this passage change your view of that?
- Is there a situation where you are waiting to feel strong before acting, rather than trusting God’s power?
- Talk to God about your weakness and ask for his power and strength.
Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:7b-10
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Reflection:
Have you ever wrestled with someone who was WAY stronger than you? Maybe it was your mom or dad, or an older sibling, or even a friend who’s just plain stronger than you? You might put up a good fight, but at some point, they are just too strong and end up pinning you, right? Now if you get pinned, (or worse, if they make you surrender/say uncle), do you immediately start bragging about how weak you are? Do you start to talk about how AWESOME it is that you are weak, and they are strong? No, of course not! No chance you’d brag about how much weaker you are than the other person, because we don’t like to talk about times where we are weak! So why does Paul, in our reading, say that he will ‘boast’, or brag, about being weak? Because Paul knows that when he is weak, and when he isn’t strong enough to do something, it leaves room for God to come in and give him strength! Because Paul knows that if he is too weak to do something, God will come in and give him the strength that he needs to get it done. That’s why Paul says ‘when I am weak, I am strong’. Because when we try to do something on our own, there is a lot that we can’t do. But when we admit that we aren’t strong enough to do it, and ask God to help us, He gives us the strength that we need to get it done.
- How does God know when we need help, or extra strength?
- Is there anything in your life that you could ask God for strength to help you do?
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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Devotional:
When it comes to living for God, we can often think that weaknesses and struggles hold us back from truly living for God. “If only I wasn’t struggling with that, or if only my circumstances were different, then I could truly make a difference.”
Paul had a similar circumstance and asked God to remove the “thorn in his flesh,” that was hindering his work for Christ. But God did not. Instead, God was showing Paul (and us) a truly deep spiritual truth: Our weaknesses make us trust in the perfect source of strength.
- Is there a weakness or trial are you walking through that you feel is holding you back spiritually? How might this passage change your view of that?
- Is there a situation where you are waiting to feel strong before acting, rather than trusting God’s power?
- Talk to God about your weakness and ask for his power and strength.
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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Devotional:
When it comes to living for God, we can often think that weaknesses and struggles hold us back from truly living for God. “If only I wasn’t struggling with that, or if only my circumstances were different, then I could truly make a difference.”
Paul had a similar circumstance and asked God to remove the “thorn in his flesh,” that was hindering his work for Christ. But God did not. Instead, God was showing Paul (and us) a truly deep spiritual truth: Our weaknesses make us trust in the perfect source of strength.
- Is there a weakness or trial are you walking through that you feel is holding you back spiritually? How might this passage change your view of that?
- Is there a situation where you are waiting to feel strong before acting, rather than trusting God’s power?
- Talk to God about your weakness and ask for his power and strength.