Life is full of unexpected surprises, twists and turns we don’t see coming. Some are good others aren’t. Some cause rejoicing while others bring weeping. All of them… every single one… is sent into our lives by an all wise and loving God for His glory and our ultimate good. Again… they are ALL sent by our all wise and loving God for His glory and our ultimate good. No exceptions, no caveats, without reservation.
Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God… (2 Cor 3:4-5)
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. 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. (2 Cor 12:9-10)
I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:11-13)
Content with weaknesses? Insults? Hardships? Persecution? Calamities?! Content whether in abundance or need… plenty or hunger… regardless of the circumstance?
This kind of contentment is a gift from God to those who decidedly and with purpose have God as the center of their life. Confidence in life is an attitude toward and about God that relies by faith completely on Him, regardless of the situation. The more we realize how weak we really are and thus rely completely and absolutely on God, the stronger we are. Therefore…
WHEN weak… insulted… in hardship… when persecuted and calamities happen, you are most strong because then you must rely on Christ. The BEST place any Christian can be is at the end of their rope, without any resources, devoid of anyone to help. THOSE ARE THE TIMES WHEN God is most real and active. Those are the times when mountains move and are cast into the sea. So when it seems as though all hope is lost, those are the times to be the most hopeful because “Our sufficiency is from God” (2 Cor 3:5).