Strength in Weakness

What feels like a weakness can become a place of grace and strength. God often reveals His power most clearly when we learn to rely on Him.

“A thorn was given me in the flesh … I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:7–9).

Born in Bonn in 1770, Ludwig van Beethoven burst onto the world’s musical stage with unmatched virtuosity as a pianist.

Then when he was only 28 years old, he began to lose his hearing. This loss drove him to the depths of despair. Nothing helped, not even a special ear trumpet. He pleaded with God, yet his hearing continued to deteriorate.

Beethoven’s deafness could have seemed like Paul’s thorn in the flesh. Like Paul, Beethoven fervently desired that this thorn be removed, and he couldn’t understand why he continued to suffer.

But while feeling frustrated, he turned more to composing. In the process, he was able to “hear” music in new ways. He wrote a series of unprecedented compositions that changed history. As pianist Andras Schiff commented, he “turned an obstacle into a virtue.”

As Paul was dealing with his thorn, God told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” It was through weakness that Paul learned to rely on God and see that He would provide all he needed. Instead of complaining, Paul concluded, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

No matter what you face, you can trust God. He can provide solutions to problems that seem unsolvable. He will give you the power and strength you need.

Reflection Question: Where might God be inviting you to depend on His grace today?