The power of Christ. 2 Corinthians 12:9. “And He said unto me, ‘My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Most gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
God has His reasons for allowing physical pain and seemingly unreasonable difficulties, but it is not mine to contend, fully understand, or even try to defend the actions of life that brought this trouble to pass. What I think is good, may be bad in the long run, and what I think is bad, perhaps is God’s best for me. I really don’t really know, and I’m not going to ask. It is enough for me that His grace has supplied more than enough to keep me satisfied that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
The pain in my body and the pain in my soul, I find hard to contend with, because I’m not really whole. My soul and spirit are sanctified but not my body. The uncertainty of the future, and failures of the past, I can’t really deal with unless willingly I cast every burden and confusion on Him whom I love and know He loves me. His full, sufficient grace enables me to prove His lovingkindness and tender mercies that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
The pressures from without, from those who look on, often make me ponder on the work I have done, which has no seemingly useful purpose. Rather, let me lay it all down at the Master’s pierced feet so that my joy and His glory will never be in some kind of competition. He has been pleased to use the little that I’ve been able to give so that God may be honored in this life which I now live in the flesh and that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
This power is not self, for my limited self-life is weak. This power is not will, nor for will-power to work its self-centered way. This power is not mind, for intelligence can fail and intellect can be deceptive. This power is not for prestige or honor from people or worldly “powers that be.” This power is not strength in the energy of the flesh to attain recognition or glory in supposed accomplishments. This power is not beauty or attraction to gain followers so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. No, the paradox is this – in weakness, God gives strength.
The glory of any attainment or successful work done is God’s from start to finish. God’s grace is fully sufficient, under every circumstance to meet every need. God alone determines the provision that is suitable to fully accomplish His divine will, it’s not based on what I think or what suits my opinions. The power to produce what God intends is by Him fully supplied. Therefore, in Him, only I put my trust – that the power of Christ may rest upon me.