I was driving to church last Sunday and praying for strength. I was tired. My weekend hadn’t gone as planned and I unfortunately missed my typical rhythms of rest. So, I was praying for strength for the day ahead.

It’s a typical prayer. “Lord, please, give me strength.” But, this time was different. I immediately felt God gently impress on my soul a question, “Do you want my strength or do you just want the strength to power through?” The question stopped me and I realized that I wasn’t really praying for God’s strength. I was praying for more strength for me to power through. I wanted him to remove my weakness. God then graciously helped me realize that what I actually needed wasn’t more of my own strength, but to embrace my weakness so that His strength could shine.

The apostle Paul says the same thing in his letter to the church in Corinth. He had pleaded three times for the Lord to heal him of his “thorn in the flesh”. The thorn was a weakness in Paul’s life. It slowed him down and humbled him. He wanted it removed, but God had better plans.

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

Paul came to realize that God’s power shines through his weaknesses. In this way, his weaknesses actually became an unexpected strength. They helped him to stay humble when it would be easy to become conceited as a leader. They provided the context for God’s power to be seen by others as he worked through Paul’s life. Also, his weaknesses allowed him to draw closer to God and experience greater intimacy with the Lord.

This past Sunday was a great day. But, it wasn’t because God gave me more strength. It was a great day, because his power shined through my weakness. When I embraced my weakness before God, he graced me with a greater humility and love for others. I was more aware and attuned to the weaknesses of those around me and more compassionate. My words became more merciful and my posture more welcoming.

What weaknesses are you praying God will remove? Is it possible that God is using those weaknesses for good in your life and for the good of others?

Pray this: Lord, thank you for your kindness towards us. I want my weaknesses taken away. But, I give you thanks that you know what is truly best. You can use these thorns to work wonders of love and compassion. You use them to draw me closer. So, thank you for my weaknesses. Help me not run from weaknesses, but bravely embrace them and enter into your good plans. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.