Listen:
“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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me”. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Reflect:
Uh-oh, My Humanness is Showing Do you need help? Are you overwhelmed? Are you treading water just trying not to drown? If you answered yes to any of the above, you are not alone. There is hope. Ask for help. Ask for prayer. Pursue counseling. Pursue rest. Pursue Jesus.
In times and seasons of need, I have a resistance to ask for and receive help. If I honestly express need, will people think I am needy? If I honestly express sorrows and give voice to things that are hard, will my need be more of a burden than my loved ones want to take on? I am a church leader…if I am weak, will people doubt the faithfulness of God?
And then, God’s gentle and loving Spirit reminds me that it is pride that makes me want to appear strong, and that in my weakness, Christ’s strength is made perfect. Instead of withdrawing, I am honest when someone asks how I am doing, and I express my need to loved ones around me. In my brokenness and weakness, Jesus pours out his grace and goodness on me through the care and generosity of others.
Hard looks different for everyone and so does the processing of that hard. Who in your circle of influence is suffering and could use your help? Who in your life could you be honest with about how you are really doing? Being in relationship includes honestly expressing need. So, I ask: Will you let a little bit of your humanness show too?
Prayer of Response
“Jesus, when I think about following you, I think about the way you loved, served and supported the vulnerable people around you. Not only did you seek out and welcome wounded and hurting people, opening yourself constantly to disapproval and misunderstanding, you, Jesus, the savior of the world, the perfect image bearer of the invisible God embraced vulnerability and took on the fragility and weakness of a human even to death on a cross. Thank you for modeling vulnerability. Thank you for modeling sacrificial love. In our weakness, your power is made perfect. Amen”
—Submitted by Erinne Baker
Erinne is a wife, mom (of 4), and pastor residing in Portland, Oregon. She is a lifelong learner of what it means to trust God, and live a life fueled by love and grace.
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