"When I am Weak, Then I Am Powerful"

"I take pleasure in weaknesses, in insults, in times of need, in persecutions and difficulties, for Christ." - 2 CORINTHIANS 12:10. 

THE apostle Paul openly acknowledged that he at times felt weak.  He admitted that his body was "wasting away,"  that he had to struggle to do what was right, and that Jehovah did not always answer his prayers the way he hoped He would. (2 Corinthians 4:16; 12:7-9; Romans 7:21-23) Paul also acknowledged that is opposers viewed him as weak.  But he did not allow the negative viewpoint of others or his own weaknesses to make him feel worthless. -  2 CORINTHIANS 10:10-12, 17, 18.

Paul learned a valuable lesson-a person can be strong even when he feels that he is weak. (Read 2 Corinthians 12:9, 10)  Jehovah told Paul that His power is "made perfect in weakness," meaning that Jehovah's power would make up for the strength that Paul lacked. First, let us see why we should not be troubled when our opponents insult us.

None of us like to be insulted. However, if our enemies do insult us and we are overly concerned with what they say, we can become discouraged.  (Proverbs 24:10)  How, then, should we view the insults of the opposers?  Like Paul, we can "take pleasure . . . in insults." ( 2 Corinthians  12:10)  Why? Because insults and opposition are signals that we are genuine disciples of Jesus.  ( 1 Peter 4:14) Jesus said that his followers would be persecuted. (John 15:18-20) That proved true in the first century. Back then, those influenced by Greek culture viewed Christians as unintelligent and weak. And among the Jews, Christians were considered to be "uneducated and ordinary," like the apostle Peter and John. (Acts 4:13) Christians seemed to be weak; they had not political influence or military power, and people viewed the as outcasts of society.

Next time: "When I Am Weak, Then I Am Powerful"

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