Saturday, June 26

Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
—2 Corinthians 12:10

Most of us have suffered weaknesses in our lives; we have had to face trials and difficulties that seemed like they would leave us forever broken. We have been passed over for promotions or been left standing holding the bag while everyone else deserted us. 

We have experienced tragedy and trouble that rocked our very foundations. But, most likely, very few of us have suffered all of those things merely because of our faith.

Yet, in some ways, all of the weaknesses, pain, and trouble that we suffer in this life have something to do with our faith, because the Holy One knows our trials and stands with us when we are in the midst of them. Nothing occurs in our life that is beyond the heartbeat of heaven.

When we feel as though our lives have been rubbed raw, when we feel so weak that we are sure we will crumble with our next breath, it is then that we are the strongest because we rely no longer on our own clever tricks to take away our pain. We are broken enough that the strength of God can overtake us and make us whole.

O God, I do not want to suffer weakness, but when I do, let me to relax my grip, and let go into the river of your strength.

These Signposts originally appeared on explorefaith in 2003.