In the book of 2nd Corinthians, Paul tells the Corinthians that the great trials and hardships he went through were on account of the gospel. Paul’s account is striking, for in it he details how he risked his life for the sake of the gospel. Not only did he endure a great deal of suffering for the gospel, he gained a greater understanding of the power therein. This understanding lead him to declare what he did in 2 Corinthians 11:30 and 2 Corinthians 12:9 about the grace of God being displayed through our weakness. 2nd Corinthians 11:30 states, “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” And continuing on in that vein, chapter 12, verse 9 expounds, “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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Have you ever gone through a time when you felt like your world was going to implode? Paul’s words (quoted above) are good news for us , since they demonstrate a life lived in pursuit of God and His grace. Our strength for all of life’s trials comes not from our physical prowess, but from the Lord. Your tribulations are not just for you, they are gifts of counsel and comfort to others. You may think that you can’t possibly strengthen others in the midst of your own weakness, but we must remember that when we are weak, He is strong. Paul could boast in his weakness because he knew that the many difficulties of life are designed for our good, in order to display God’s strength through our weakness. This is why we shouldn’t run from trials, but to Jesus in the midst of them, since He alone is the One who can calm the storms.
During times when I want nothing more than my current circumstances to be a thing of the past, I have to remind myself that these trials are for my good and God’s glory. God promises to take what is going on in your life and use it as a testimony for His glory. Maybe today you feel weak and worn from life’s difficulties; be encouraged that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion (Phil. 1:6) and that your labor for the Lord is not in vain (1 Cor. 15:58). The Lord knows of all your experiences (whether good or bad), and will use each one to grow you in His grace, in order to glorify His great Name, through your weakness.
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
