Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.—2 Corinthians 12:9-10
A man lay seasick in his bunk one stormy night, during a long voyage across the Atlantic. He could hardly move from the severe discomfort. All of a sudden, he heard a cry of “Man overboard!” from the deck above. His first thought was, God help that poor fellow – there’s nothing I can do.
Then the thought struck him, There is something I can do. So he took his lantern and held it up to the porthole next to his bunk. The drowning man was rescued, and the next day he recounted, “I was going down in the darkness when someone put a light in a porthole. It shone on my hand and a sailor in a lifeboat grabbed my hand and pulled me in.”
“I’m too sick…” “I’m too weak…” “I’m not able enough…” Very often, people who fail to attempt anything for the Kingdom of God will use excuses like these. They see their weaknesses as debilitating and never take initiative to do what they can.
But weakness is no excuse for not putting forth all of the strength we have for God’s purposes. And the truth is it’s in our weakness that God’s power is often shown the strongest. So whatever situation you may be in today, put forth the effort to share Christ and watch how God will use your weakness for His glory!
Prayer Challenge
Pray that God would open your eyes to the ministry opportunities He’s placed around you – even when you face tough challenges.
Questions for thought
In your life today, how are you tempted to let your challenges become excuses for not doing the ministry God has called you to do?
How might God use your challenges to make His name great in the world around you?