Photo by Fredrik Öhlander on Unsplash

There is power in weakness.

“‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

The world offers us power. There is the constant temptation to do better than others, to get higher grades, move up the corporate ladder, have a bigger title, know more, etc. The list goes on and on! 

However, the gospels demonstrate something different. That is, only in and through our weakness do we give God an opportunity to work in power and authority.

The life of Peter exemplifies this so well. In one instance, after fishing all night and catching nothing, Jesus asks him to let down the nets.

“When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, ‘Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.’ Simon answered, ‘Master, we have worked all night long but have caught nothing. Yet if you say so, I will let down the nets’” (Luke 5:4-5). 

When we have nothing to offer, nothing to prove, God is able to move and work in power. Our selfish pride prevents the Spirit of God from working in might. Our weakness gives God permission. 

In a recent Rebuilders podcast episode I was listening to, one of the co-hosts said something that really struck me.  

“A change condition for the church in a post-Christian society is that the church must engage in mission and Christian witness from a position of weakness rather than strength… Weakness is an opportunity to discover the actual power of God.”

As Christian in a post-Christian world, we need to recognize that it is precisely our weakness that gives us strength.

May we always remember the words that Pope St. John Paul II spoke at World Youth Day in Toronto:

“We are not the sum of our weaknesses and failures; we are the sum of the Father’s love for us and our real capacity to become the image of His Son Jesus.”

Patrick is a beloved son of the Father who desires to use his gifts to build up the Kingdom of God. You can read more of his writing on his blog.