Let Go and Let God
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2 Corinthians 12:9-10
9. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
This is one of those passages often misunderstood. At first reading it doesn’t seem to make sense at all, does it? Paul seems to be saying that only when we’re weak and helpless is God happy with us. We might think we are to be glad when life is hard and when we feel alone and helpless. How in the world can we be strong and weak at the same time?
Part of the confusion is due to the way in which Paul expressed himself. Another may have to do with our understanding of how God, manifested through Christ’s sacrifice, works in our lives. Very plainly put, Paul declares for himself, and encourage us to believe for ourselves, that no matter what happens in our lives Christ is there for us. In fact, He’s within us. He is the source of our strength. He provides endurance and comfort and peace in the midst of our problems – whether we are being persecuted for our beliefs, concerned about situations in our lives, or people we love who are making poor choices, or any other man-ordained situation.
Christ is the answer to every question. Christ is the source of our energy and strength. That said, we often get in the way of Christ’s work in us and in our lives, don’t we? We don’t always make wise choices, we don’t act on our faith, we hide the fact that we are Christians, we worry and worry about everything and attempt to control every aspect of our lives and our world. When we act in these ways, we crowd Jesus out. It is not until we yield to Him and His wisdom, His strength, His example that we find true strength. It’s not until we “let go and let God” that we find peace from distresses.
The power that is perfected in weakness is that power which we yield to Christ. We have human limitations. God does not. He sent Jesus into the world to show us exactly what these verses mean. Jesus, in his human form, asked God to save him from what was to come—the crucifixion. Yet he submitted to God’s will. He knew his humanity was not sufficient for the task. He knew God was. That’s what Paul wants us to know, I think. We are weak. He is strong.
My prayer today is that you yield to Christ’s all-sufficient grace. And that you “let Go and let God” handle all your problems.
Mary
