Strength & Weakness

It has been too long since I posted here.  With covid no longer what it was, time has filled up once again with obligations of various sorts and time for journaling and posting is limited.  I was able, though, to finally create another journaling page over the course of the last couple of days, so that I have a few minutes to post about it today.  (For information on how I created the page, please check out my paper crafting blog here.)

I have been struggling with various challenges and feel so weak sometimes - physically and spiritually. And yet, I have seen such power in those moments when I'm feeling weak & God steps in to strengthen me!  These verses were brought to mind as I was again facing various weaknesses, and I must say they present a challenge.  Here's what they say in the ISV:

"To keep me from becoming conceited because of the exceptional nature of these revelations, a thorn was given to me and placed in my body.  It was Satan's messenger to keep on tormenting me so that I would not become conceited.  I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me, but he has told me, "My grace is all you need, because my power is perfected in weakness."  Therefore, I will most happily boast about my weaknesses, so that the Messiah's power may rest on me.  That is why I take such pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for the Messiah's sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong."  II Corinthians 12:7-10

Not only am I to gracefully accept my weaknesses, looking to God's power to perfect in me, but Paul challenges me to happily boast about them and take pleasure in them!!!  And I don't think this means a whining fest about them, either!

For Paul, his weakness was to keep him humble.  That may be the case in part for me as well, but the main thing I notice is that my weaknesses remind me to rely on God in a way that I'm ashamed to say I'm less likely to do when I feel strong.  I want to always remember my dependence on Him, no matter what, but I'm grateful for the reminder nonetheless.

As I was contemplating this passage, asking God for a way to illustrate it, the hummingbird came to mind.  A hummingbird is certainly weak as it is so small, but is it also strong?  I did a little research about birds and strength.  Some of the strongest birds are eagles - some of which are strong enough to carry a man according to the article I read by a bird researcher!  The hummingbird, of course, is much more fragile than an eagle - one of the most fragile of birds.  And yet, when you consider the amount of lifting power per unit of body weight, they say that the hummingbird can lift more per unit of body weight than any other bird! 

Father, you say your eye is on the sparrow.  I can't help but think it is also on the hummingbird, who surely can only lift so much because of the way that YOU made it!  May I TRULY experience the power of this passage and experience the truth that when I am weak, then I am strong!  Thank you for the strength that YOU are in me.  May I allow that strength to permeate my entire being so that is what is always seen and experienced!  May I ALWAYS remember that you are my strength, and not rely on my own strength in anything.