A Blessing for Those Who Rest in His Power Perfected

At the end of every month, we’ll come together to count the grace He has breathed into our lives through the lens of this month’s blessing. In honor of World Stroke Day, this month’s grace comes in looking back to a day eleven years ago, a day I was reminded that weakness brings us the gift of His power and strength.

Today, I learned I am weak.  

Now I could have guessed it. The nearly cursing at every onesie snap. The fervent appreciation for the invention of the zipper. And the tragic demise of the now-repaired laptop in my possession.

All signs pointed to it. The falling. The tripping. The dropping. (For any and all concerned, the dropping involved the computer not the children.)

There is even a name for it:  left-sided hemiparesis. I would like to say I know how to pronounce this, but that might take longer than my therapy.

In my stubborness, I denied it. “I’m fine.” “It’s no big deal.” “I’m adjusting.” Words of a sincere but truly delusional woman.

But then I was faced with the cold, hard truth in all my OT glory. My darling left hand could not even pick up a bean. Yes, a blessed bean.

Gone were the grand plans of working out on the gym equipment, taking the kids to the pool and power walking around the neighborhood. Instead, my workout consists of folding washcloths.  

The one domestic duty I despise is the key to my rehabilitation. Whoever said God doesn’t have a sense of humor, my friends? I assure you this alone confirms He does.

Now, I’ll admit the whole drama with the bean was a little humiliating. I even shed a few tears on the way home. But something in me keeps returning to this, “My power is made perfect in weakness.”

The God of the universe. His power. Made perfect in my weakness.

Now bean or no, that is crazy amazing.  

So what if we all faced our weakness this way? No denial, no argument, no humiliation, but instead, only praise.

Praise that His power is made perfect. Praise that we are less so He is more. Praise that others don’t see our strength, our experience, or our talent, but instead, only Him.

Yes, today, I learned I am weak, but just like that little old bean, it matters little.

Because today, He is strong.

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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

2 Corinthians 12:9

Now it’s your turn: How will you boast of your weakness today?