Miriam Thurlow writes:

2 Corinthians 12:5-10: Leaning into our weaknesses

As disciples we all want to grow in maturity and into fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4), but sometimes part of the process of growing means leaning into our weaknesses.

In 2 Corinthians 12:5-10, Paul tells us he gladly boasts of his weaknesses so that Christ’s power might rest on him. He has experienced the truth that when he is weak, he is strong because God’s grace is sufficient.

Paul embraces weakness because it leads to greater dependence on God, but this is not what the world tells us about weakness. The world tells us weakness is 3 things:

• Something that is a sign of incompetence, and therefore inferiority.

• Something that is a burden, which we must bear in isolation.

• Something that is to be avoided and hidden because it is shameful.

However, the kingdom view of weakness is very different. In the upside-down kingdom way weakness:

• Something that reveals our need for Jesus and draws us closer to Him.

• Something that we don’t have to carry alone because we go together and we go with God.

• Something that we should embrace because it displays the truth that God’s grace is enough.

I have recently sensed the Holy Spirit inviting me into a season of leaning into one of my weaknesses. I am in a season of starting new things, in particular Studio4:16 a young adults intentional community and Spurgeons Family Hub as a resource for mission among families in Bridlington. Both are going to require me to lean into being evangelistic more intentionally, which is not one of my strengths. This doesn’t come naturally me, but I sense the Holy Spirit inviting me to lean into my weakness so that I might grow and learn to trust Him more fully. I am choosing to embrace this season because I want to be a disciple who continues to grow in maturity and experience more of the fullness of Christ.

I don’t want to be a disciple who is afraid of weakness because I fear it reveals my incompetence, instead I want to be a disciple who embraces weakness because it teaches me to trust God more fully.

I don’t want to be a disciple who tries to carry or disguise my weaknesses in my own strength, instead I want to be a disciple who leans into my weaknesses because the Holy Spirit equips and trains me and I don’t have to do it alone.

I don’t want to be a disciple who avoids my weaknesses out of shame, instead I want to be a disciple who embraces my weaknesses so Christ’s power might dwell in me more richly and so that the world might see Him also.

How about you?

 Reverend Miriam Thurlow Associate Vicar CCBN