Right now in my life and that of my family along with extended family and friends, there are hardships to varying degrees. Some of significance, others are relatively minor. But they are all important to me none the less. My mind and prayers are powerfully drawn to ask God to address situations in… my immediate family, close friends, extended family, and my Christian family called Huffman Baptist Church. Many times I feel like there is a huge weak link in my faith “chain.”
You know what I’m talking about. You have similar situations in your own life. Therefore let us consider the Scriptures…
1 Corinthians 1:26 Consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28 God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, 29 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, whom God made our wisdom and our righteousness and sanctification and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 He (Jesus) 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. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
The Christians faith is full of what the world calls contradictions. What the world places high value upon, Christ says is worthless. At the same time, what the world devalues Christ exalts!
As Christians when we are the most overwhelmed… the most burdened… the weakest… the most convinced of our utter powerlessness, THAT is when we are the strongest! The reason is because THAT is when God’s strength and power is most on display! It is in the hardest times of our life that Christians rely utterly and completely upon God! That way God gets all the glory for whatever He chooses to do.
Go back and read 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 again. Believe God. Make a conscious choice to follow Paul’s example. Pray and trust God. Be content IN CHRIST.
Sometimes it is like pushing a chain uphill – not easy!