“He said to me, ‘My grace is enough for you, because power is made perfect in weakness.’ So I’ll gladly spend my time bragging about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power can rest on me. Therefore, I’m all right with weaknesses, insults, disasters, harassments, and stressful situations for the sake of Christ, because when I’m weak, then I’m strong” (2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:9-10‬ , CEB‬‬).

I’m thankful I don’t have to be strong all the time, or even pretend I’m strong when I’m clearly not. But this flies in the face of the All-American pull yourself up by your own bootstraps mentality.

The familiar motto says that if it is to be, it is up to me. As if I had any power to create or change reality. A better saying might be that if it is to be, He, i.e. God, is up to it.

I’m learning that true strength lies not in stoic gritting your teeth but in surrender and submission to the true power of God. It’s saying, whatever the outcome, I want Your will instead of my own.

In God’s economy, I can overcome not in spite of weakness but because of it. That very weakness is the platform where God’s strength is made manifest the most and shows up best. So why do I try to hide my weaknesses or pretend they don’t exist?

Lord, help me not to try to be strong in my own power but to rest and work from the perfect strength You already provide. I know apart from You I can do nothing but through You I can do all things in the name and power of Christ who is my strength. Be glorified in me today. Amen.