Before Strength

Read: 2 Corinthians 12:1-10

When I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:10

IN WORD

Every society values certain virtues. Wisdom, loyalty, perseverance, humility, and others are almost universal—though in some times and places, pride and the ability to deceive have been lauded as well. But weakness shows up in hardly any culture’s definition of praiseworthy characteristics. It may be understandable and even pitied, but it isn’t sought after, with the exception of one culture: the Kingdom of God.

In the Kingdom, weakness isn’t honored for the sake of weakness, of course. It’s honored because of how it enables God to enter into our lives and show Himself strong. The goal isn’t to remain weak; it’s to rely on the power of another. As Paul claimed, our powerlessness opens the way for His power on our behalf.

That’s easy for us to picture but difficult to implement. Our instincts tell us to make ourselves strong, to seek to be well-positioned and as invincible as we can make ourselves. Throughout history, the powerful have preyed on the vulnerable with great success. But when the vulnerable depend on the God of the universe for their protection . . . well, that changes the narrative. We may experience hardship, and we may even suffer. But we don’t lose. Not when God is on our side.

IN DEED

The counterintuitive command of the Kingdom culture is for us to rest in God’s strength. He fights our battles. He may have specific instructions for us, just as He did with Moses, Joshua, Gideon, David, Jehoshaphat, and many others. But we don’t trust in chariots and horses or any modern equivalent. If we did, we would only be getting in the way. God often lets us experience such futility. But we are called rather to trust in the name of our God. We stand still and see His salvation, cry out for His help and expect Him to come, be still and know that He is God. We aren’t passive, but neither do we take charge. Our active trust gives Him room to work. And our acknowledged weakness makes it clear that we are empowered by the might of someone far greater than ourselves.

ADDITIONAL READING: Psalm 33:16-22

The martyrs shook the powers of darkness with the irresistible power of weakness.

JOHN MILTON