Displaying God’s Power Through Your Imperfections

2 Corinthians 12:9, And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.

Do you ever get tired of trying to measure up? You cover up flaws and weaknesses to create a false version of yourself to meet someone else’s standards, all while compromising your truest self. Oftentimes, we grieve and loathe our inadequacies, frailties, and deficiencies. Focusing on these human weaknesses hinders our ability to see ourselves from God’s perspective; our view becomes distorted with lies about who we are in Jesus. Matthew 6:22-23 urges us to keep a single eye, maintaining a clear, healthy, undivided focus on God so that our whole bodies may be filled with light. Then, and only then, will we live from the right perspective and see ourselves as he sees us. We will avoid the pitfalls of lies and deception of the enemy that keep us in bondage. Depending on the lies we believe, we either begin to walk in a superior or inferior attitude. Both are rooted in poor self-esteem, born out of human frailty. Neither of these attitudes reflects Christ’s character.

The superior attitude compares others’ flaws to its own and is arrogant, boastful, and condescending. It looks down on others, seeking a way to escape and hide its own weaknesses. Doing this makes the superior attitude feel better about itself. Yet this person becomes a functional, flawed individual with hidden weaknesses that they struggle to manage on their own, day in and day out.

Next, the inferior attitude often feels inadequate, has low self-worth, and usually sees itself as not good enough or less than others. This attitude can lead to social withdrawal, make you overly sensitive to criticism, and make it hard for you to accept compliments. This attitude isolates and hides from others, and is accompanied by a victim mentality, causing a strain on relationships.

Both of these conditions affect our emotional growth and maturity. It hinders our ability to become emotionally whole and spiritually sound. The antidote to these conditions is to take God at his word! We must die to our self-life and live our life in Christ by the grace of God.

2 Corinthians 12:9, But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.

Apostle Paul suffered a thorn in his flesh; he asked the Lord three times to remove it. The Lord’s response to Paul was, “ My grace is sufficient.” God’s grace was enough to sustain Paul. It was in Paul’s weakness and his vulnerabilities that God’s strength became visible. He no longer relied on his own abilities but allowed God’s power to infuse his flaws.

Let us continue to grow in a deeper relationship with the Lord that we may begin to trust him with new levels of confidence in his ability through us. That we will find the courage to unmask our flaws, embrace our human inadequacies, and allow the same power that rested on Paul to rest on us. This is when you will discover your authentic self and live in the freedom that Jesus paid for, and no longer live in bondage or be enslaved to man.

Key Take-away:

Stop being unsettled by your imperfections, and settle for Jesus’ perfection. Boast in your weaknesses that the power of God may dwell in you. Trust God to cover you with his grace.