Bible Reading
(KJV – 2 Corinthians 12:9) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
(KJV – Isaiah 41:10) Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Just a Thought – Strength is Made Perfect in Weakness
I guess that there are many other folk, who like me tend to get overly anxious when confronted with life’s pressures of one kind or another. Possible outcomes of a significant event, uncertainty over our capability to perform well in an important examination or job interview, will we have enough cash to see out the month and pay all the bills, waiting for a diagnosis from our doctor on any tests that we might have had, or maybe concerns over the health of a loved one – these and a thousand other things may cause us to doubt and fear, and with the more serious issues these things have the tendency to put life in perspective for us all.
We are all human beings, and, if we are honest, we need at times to remember to reflect upon our weakness, and our dependency upon God for the daily strength that we all need. Some people seem to sail through life without a care in the world, others of us can only find the ability to cope, with the aid of a strength that is outside ourselves. In that sense, you might say that there is strength in weakness.
Well, as Christians, whatever our profession or calling, in-work, or retired, the first thing we ought to do is to pray about our situation. My dear father-in-law, who went to be with The Lord in 2001, in his 91st year, often quoted this saying – “Prayer moves the hand that holds the World.” He proved it to be true so many times in his long life. He learned to trust in the promises of God, and as long as I knew him, he lived a life of utter dependence upon God for the needed strength to cope with the pressures and difficulties of each passing day.
So as you set out on each day’s journey, learn not to fear what the day may hold. Trust God, for He is with us, and what a comforting assurance it is to know that He will give us the strength to cope with, or even to endure whatever trial or anxiety we may be passing through. For after all is said and done, He, our God and Saviour, has said that he will give us His grace, and that it will be sufficient for us, and yes, that His strength will be made perfect in our weakness.
Random thoughts
It’s not necessarily a bad thing to be dependent, so long as our dependency is upon God
Never be afraid to admit that you can’t cope, and that you need the Lord’s help.
Prayer
Most gracious God, our loving and merciful Heavenly Father, we give thanks unto Thee that Thou art so mindful of us, in all our times of pressure and stress. Thy compassion is such that Thou art willing to lift us up when we are down. Even amidst all our fears and anxieties Thou wilt never leave us or forsake us. Give us that needful strength when we feel so weak and fearful, and help us to know and follow the way that Thou, in Thy infinite wisdom, has planned for us. Our prayer, we lift up to Thee, in the precious and worthy name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.
Alan S. Flint