weakness...
target it...overcome it...or mask it...
but never embrace it...
because it is synonymous with
...inability...failure...deficiency...
yet...when we tear away the facade...isn't it the place we all dwell most in our lives?
i read about paul today...and his weakness (2 corinthians 12:8-10)...
he didn't tell me what it was...just that it was ongoing...a constant source of torment and struggle...and something he begged God to take away on more than one occasion...
i can't speak for you...but me? i know a thing or two about ongoing struggle...
and my lips have definitely formed at least a hundred prayers like paul's...
'please God...
won't you just make it all go away?'
and God's response?...
'actually....no.
you don't need fixing...you need grace...
you don't need fixing...you need grace...
and in me there is more than enough...
because i hate to tell you, but i do my best work with weakness...'
wait...what was that?...He won't fix me?...He's not most glorified in my perfection?
no...
because when we feel God's embrace...
because when we feel God's embrace...
knowing He understands the depth of our brokenness...
and when we experience His grace...
transforming us as it heals that brokenness...
and when we watch His power...
working through us despite that brokenness....
we are awed...
we stand up...
a living testament to how amazing He is...
an encouragement to fellow weaklings...
we hurl that facade as far as we can and shout...
'I AM WEAK!! HE IS STRONG!!'
we understand, with paul, this state of weakness...
...this place of colliding with the grace and sufficiency of God...
...it is beautiful....
breathtaking....
...it is beautiful....
breathtaking....
and we revel in it.
we want nothing more than to know our own limitation...
...revealing His ability!
...and He is glorified...
we are a people saved by grace...yes...
but how wonderful to be a people sustained by it as well.
