My grace is sufficient for you

The Bible verse I received in 1999 at my baptism in the ice cold Sitter creek surprised me at the time.

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

I couldn’t make much sense of it. There are many verses in the Bible that are beyond our comprehension at first because they are paradoxical and cannot be understood with worldly thinking. What good is weakness? I am usually ashamed when I am weak. I want to hide my weaknesses.
Who can really come to terms with making mistakes? I definitely have problems with that.

So what does this verse mean? It reminds me of an incident in the Book of Acts:

When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Acts 4:13

The educated members of the Council were amazed at the apostles. The way Peter and John spoke did not fit their image of uneducated people. They became attentive and astonished. Through the weakness of the apostles—in this case, the weakness was their lack of education—the power of Jesus was particularly evident in them.

I assume that uneducated people at that time did not dare to engage in discussions with the members of the Council. But Peter and John stood up confidently for their faith. They radiated an authority that amazed the country’s elite. And they attributed this to the apostles association with Jesus.

Do we know that our faith in God, or rather, God’s covenant with us, makes a difference and is evident in our life here on earth? I am convinced of it!

This verse about God’s power within us is an invitation from him to place all our confidence in him. God is good! We can entrust ourselves to him completely, including everything that makes us feel weak and inadequate. When we place ourselves in his hands, he will do his part. And that is more than enough and visible to others.

How do I do this? I think it is good and healing to go to God with everything that troubles me. I speak out what I am afraid of. When I speak the truth honestly before God and myself, then God can work. God works where I am honest! Only then can I receive his perspective on things. And his truth is so incredibly healing!

Besides, a weakness will (hopefully) bring me closer to God! I will ask him to help me. He loves it when we let him help us! I will remain in a close relationship with him. Then God can lead me into the things he has prepared for me. Then I will be where I can most effectively reveal God’s glory. That is where his grace and power are at work!

A wonderful side effect of this is that it saves me energy and nerves when I know that God is working through me and I don’t have to do things alone! I’m more relaxed when I reckon on his help.

God has given us our talents and strengths, and he wants us to use them. But sometimes I know I can do something and feel like I don’t “need” God to help me. In those cases, I have to be careful not to become proud and insist on doing things my own way.

The conclusion for me? I believe this verse is primarily about the attitude of our heart and our trust in him! God takes great pleasure in our trust. It doesn’t matter if we are weak—we have a God with great power working in us. God’s grace is sufficient! We can make ourselves available and he will work. Knowing this makes life more relaxed and joyful, doesn’t it?