Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Nobody really enjoys the battle, the struggle, the hardships. We don’t enjoy being unemployed, wondering how we are going to pay the incoming bills. We don’t like living with health problems, searching for a release to the relentless discomfort. We don’t like battling the constant lure of wealth and greed, questioning whether or not we will ever be satisfied. We don’t relish days lacking purpose and joy, wondering if this is all life has to offer. And when we are in the midst of a battle, we go to the Lord looking for a release, seeking rescue, searching for a remedy to resolve the problems that plague our days. We want God to remove the trouble…we want him to step into the mix and make things better. But sometimes that isn’t in God’s plan…sometimes the battle wages on as we go to prayer each day, asking for the desired rescue. Sometimes the battle can be with us for a few months, several years, or maybe even a lifetime. And we could raise our fist at God in anger, scolding him for not responding to our need…calling him out for not providing the rescue that is mentioned so many times in the Book of Psalms. We could become indifferent to God, stepping away from him, assuming that he does not hear or does not care to remove our burden. Or, we could read the text above in 2 Corinthians, text written by Paul after enduring countless battles for the sake of the Gospel, and realize that perhaps God is working great things through our struggles. Perhaps God is using this battle to help us realize our dependence on him, to realize that we can’t just run on our own two feet but need him to lean on. Or maybe it’s God way of redirecting our focus in life, humbling us where we stand, leading us into service for him. Or maybe God is using us as an instrument allowing us to relate to another that is facing a similar battle…and granting us the opportunity to lead this person to the strength found in Christ. Who knows exactly what God is doing in our lives…but make no mistake, he is doing…he is working, he is listening, he is responding. As a father cares for his child, so God cares for each of his children…not letting any go ignored, unloved, or cast aside. May we find hope in the text above, knowing that great things can come from struggle for those who put their faith in the Lord. To God be the glory!
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