It happens innocently enough. A lot of us are doing our prayerful best to grow and become more like Jesus. But we can exaggerate or embellish our progress!

Take me for example. I often don’t have answers to all the questions. I sometimes feel tired and sad. I can resent all the hard work. Thoughts creep into my mind that I know shouldn’t be there. I can get apathetic about the plight of others. I sometimes do the easy thing instead of the right thing. Friends, I’m a bona fide sinner. And I mean it.

But get this.

In 2 Corinthians 12:7-8 Paul describes a “thorn” in his flesh. He’s fuzzy on details, but it’s clearly a weakness, a hindrance. (By the way, I’ve done the math and by my count I’m pretty sure I have four such thorns!)

But Paul is told that God’s “power is made perfect in weakness” (verse 9).

That changes his perspective. That’s why he goes on to say, “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (verse 10). When we acknowledge our weakness, we’re more honest and allow God’s power to work through us all the more!

If we think it’s all up to us, and that our own personal strength is the only thing that counts, we close ourselves to the power of Christ working in and through us. Why wouldn’t we want that? He’s the greatest source of power in the universe!

Self-reliance is God-resistance.

So let’s stop faking perfection, be more honest, and let God work in and through us.

“For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

By Matthew Ruttan