Strength In Weak Places

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

What if the weakness you want to hide is the doorway God wants to use?

Most of us would rather present the polished version of ourselves. The capable leader. The steady parent. The strong pastor. Paul offers a different path. He hears Jesus say, “My grace is sufficient,” and then he does something that feels backward. He stops trying to look strong and invites the power of Christ to rest on him.

Here is what that can look like in real life. Picture the moment you feel least ready. The meeting you wish you could reschedule. The phone call that knots your stomach. The class session where your energy feels thin. Instead of pushing past your limits, pause. Name them with God. “Jesus, I do not feel enough for this. I need Your grace. Let Your power rest on me.” That prayer is not surrender to failure. It is surrender to presence.

I have seen this shift change rooms. When I get honest with God first, I walk in differently. I speak slower. I listen longer. I resist the urge to impress. I tell the truth about what Jesus has carried me through. People lean in because God’s power is not distant theory. It is the reason a tired parent finds patience at bedtime. It is the reason a team chooses integrity over shortcuts. It is the reason a discouraged leader takes the next right step instead of quitting.

Notice what Paul does not say. He does not say God’s grace will remove every thorn today. He says God’s grace is enough for today. Enough to meet you in the gap between what you have and what this moment requires. Enough to steady your tone when emotions run hot. Enough to clear your mind when options feel tangled. Enough to keep you faithful when outcomes are still uncertain.

If this feels risky, start small. Admit one weakness to God before you head into your next responsibility. Ask for grace that is specific, not vague. “Jesus, give me gentleness in this tough conversation.” “Jesus, give me clarity to teach this concept simply.” “Jesus, give me courage to say no without guilt.” Then watch for how He answers. The answer may come as strength you feel in the moment. It may come as a person who offers help you did not plan for. It may come as a calm that keeps you present and wise.

God loves to meet you where you run out. That is not a flaw in your leadership. That is the place where His power rests. When you approach your day that way, people will experience more than your competence. They will encounter Jesus through you. That is the point.

Application

• Where do I feel least prepared today, and how will I ask Jesus for specific grace in that place?

• What honest sentence will I speak to God before my next responsibility?

• Who needs to hear a simple testimony of how Jesus met me in weakness this month?

• What burden will I release to Jesus by name so I can take the next faithful step?

  
  

Prayer: Jesus, Your grace is enough. I bring You the places where I feel small and unsure. Let Your power rest on me. Give me words that heal, courage that obeys, and peace that steadies my pace. Make Your strength visible in my weakness so people see You clearly and find hope in You. Amen.