2 Corinthians 12:9 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.

Power made perfect in weakness. What a backwards thought. Just yesterday I was having a conversation with my mom about allowing myself to be weak. Recognizing that where I am most vulnerable is where the Lord can show his great strength. I’ve been a Christian my whole life, well – since I was 5 anyway. However, most of my adulthood has been spent trying to do it on my own might, instead of relying on God. Part of the problem is that I’ve been very richly blessed. I know, to have such “problems”, right? Really though. God has poured out blessings in heaps and mounds on me. I frequently have struggled with pride in my heart because of it. Like somehow my talents are my own doing, not gifts from the Lord. I know the dangers of running my own life, because I think I can do it better than God. That I think I’m smarter, or at least more clever than Him. I went down that road the first several years of my marriage. It wasn’t pretty. I learned that if you think you can do it all on your own, God is going to let you try…and you will fail. Miserably. It might take a while for you to realize it, but you’ll eventually figure out that your way, really isn’t the right way to do things.

This verse today reminded me that if I do things in my own power, I will only ever get human results. Regardless of how strong the person is (or thinks she is), human output is pitiful and weak compared to what God can achieve.  If however, I will allow God to be my strength, instead of wishing for the best based on my own muscle – I will see amazing things happen. And, when they do, I’ll know they are from God. I’ll be able to look at accomplishments knowing full well there’s no earthly way I did that on my own. Then I’ll be free to boast about my weakness – because the Lord’s mighty strength will be made more perfect in it – and He’ll make weakness something really worth bragging about.