Disclaimer:  If you don’t have any weaknesses, bad attitudes, or limitations, you’re excused from reading this blog.  On the other hand, if you’re human, there is truth here to make your life better!  Maybe you’re exhausted, or disappointed.  Maybe your health hampers you.  Maybe you’re easily distracted and lose focus before the job is done.  Maybe money worries cloud your days.  Our limitations, whether they be physical, financial, or psychological, can bog us down. We want to contribute, to accomplish, to join in, but our own weaknesses hinder us. What do we do?

The apostle Paul was a sufferer, so he has something to say to us. He begged the Lord to heal him. After all, he had important work to do for God. He taught, debated, preached, exhorted, corrected, wrote inspirational letters, mentored, traveled, planted churches, appointed leaders, coached, crafted, and represented Christianity to the government. He was a major player in the spread of Christianity to the Middle East and Europe. Surely God would make it easier for him to accomplish all this by healing his physical weakness!
“Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.” 2 Corinthians 12:7

Paul was given a brilliant mind. He was well educated, he was able to express his ideas well in both speech and writing, he had an engaging personality, he was physically strong- except for one major weakness, a gap in his equipment, a flaw in his perfection. But is that exactly what he needed to remind him that he needed the Lord? Could all these endowments have caused him to be proud and operate in human power instead of God’s? God knew he would need a reminder that God’s power far surpasses human power.
“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it [health problem] away from me.” 2 Corinthians 12:8

God had the power to heal, yet refused Paul’s repeated requests. Was the Lord being mean? Stingy with his healing? Or did God have a better answer than healing? Would it be better for Paul and those around him if he weren’t healed? How could Paul possibly benefit more from not being healed than from being restored to health? Are there better things than good health?
“Each time he said, “My grace is all you need.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

God knew the best thing for Paul was that Paul completely depended on him. If health issues reminded Paul to lean on God, instead of his own resources, then it was better not to be healed.
“My power works more fully in your weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Other translations of 2 Corinthians 12:9:
“My power works best in weakness.”

“Only when you are weak can everything be done completely by my power.”

“When you are weak, I will show that I am completely powerful to help you.”

“My power is strongest when you are weak.”

“My power shows up best in weak people.”

“When you are weak, my power is strong.”

Did Paul’s physical ailment prevent him from doing the tasks God gave him? Or did his ailments push him into the arms of Jesus so that the power of God accomplished the thriving church plants, the brilliant defense of the faith, the letters that have aided Christians the world over for two millennia? If he had not suffered, could he have written with compassion and confidence to sufferers? Did God get the admiration of millions instead of Paul alone? Was Paul’s strength from the Lord daily any less miraculous than if he had been healed? Or was God’s power on exhibition, especially because Paul had a disability?

The word for weakness can also be translated: illness, or limitation.
The word power can also be translated: ability, or miracle

“My miracle works best in your illness.”
His miracles aren’t always healing miracles. Often they’re provision miracles- giving us what we need to thrive in spite of illness.
Maybe you’re like Paul, a physical ailment that’s like your shadow following your every step. Maybe you get scared about the future, exhausted by the effort it takes to do normal things, and disappointed that often you have to say, ’No,’ to things you want to do. What if we stop every negative thought with an invitation for Jesus to come alongside with his miraculous ability to sustain us in suffering.  He makes us strong in faith, strong to withstand fatigue and disappointment, strong to be thankful, strong to think of others instead of ourselves.   He makes us willing to say, “I will gladly do any task you give me the power to do. And I won’t mope about what you don’t enable me to do.”

“My ability works best in your limitation.”
He picks up at the end of our own resources. He steps in when we admit our need.
Maybe your limitation is financial. You budget every penny, you give to your faith community to do God’s work, you help others with generosity of hospitality, time, and things. Yet, that nagging concern can cloud your days: ‘This month’s income will be stretched thin to cover that expensive prescription.’ Or, ‘Whoa, I didn’t see that expense coming!’ But what if we cultivate the mental response that smiles at financial limitations and looks heavenward with faith, asking God for our daily needs? We have an example of this in the Puritans (Pilgrims) who first settled New England. Here is the journal entry of their governor:
“. . . all their food was spent, and they were only to rest on God’s providence; at night not many times knowing where to have a bite of anything the next day. And so, had need to pray that God would give them their daily bread, above all people in the world. Yet they bore these wants with great patience & alacrity [cheerful willingness] of spirit, and that for so long a time as for the most part of 2 years.. .The Lord in his goodnes kept these his people, and in their great wants preserved both their lives and health; let his name have the praise.” William Bradford recording the conditions at Plymouth colony, the first two years in America.

“My power works best in your weakness.”
Maybe your weakness is your thoughts and attitudes. You’re prone to depression, anger, criticism, or gossiping. You have a bent toward pride (who doesn’t?!), or envy, or laziness. Maybe you feel sidelined and lonely.  Maybe the ‘What ifs’ cause you to worry.  Maybe you’re easily distracted and lose focus before the job is done.  Maybe you know you should say something for the Lord, but fear of offending keeps you silent.  Maybe you fall into the comparison trap or have competitive urges.  What if you recognized that in that exact spot of weakness, the Lord delights to show up and provide what you need to overcome it? What if you picture him coming eagerly to give you his power to turn away from it and turn toward his happiness?

Jesus is generous with his help.  The next time you run into difficulty, lean on his strong arm.