Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Dr. Nic Williams (00:37):
Welcome to be on Sunday and day 28, anchored
in God's promises.
This month we've been walkingthrough some of the most
powerful promises in scripture,truths that remind us we are
never without hope, neverwithout help, and never without
God's presence.
Today's verse is one of thesepromises that cuts right against
how our culture thinks.
It's second Corinthians 12,nine, but he said to me, my
(00:58):
grace is sufficient for you, formy power is made perfect in
weakness.
Therefore, I will boast all themore gladly about my weaknesses
so that Christ's power may reston me.
Paul wrote these words afterdescribing what he called his
thorn in the flesh.
Now, truth is we don't knowexactly what it was.
(01:19):
Some think it was a physicalailment.
Paul had been through a lot.
Others think it was a recurringhardship that he experienced.
Whatever it was.
Paul prayed three times for Godto take it away, but instead of
removing the thorn.
God gave Paul a promise.
The promise is this, my grace issufficient for you.
That reminds us, sometimes Goddoesn't change our
(01:40):
circumstances, but he changes usthrough the circumstances.
Now, the word grace here isn'tjust about forgiveness.
It's God's active help, hisstrength and presence in the
middle of weakness.
Sufficient means enough, notlacking, not barely scraping by,
but fully adequate.
God is saying, whatever youface, my grace will meet you
(02:03):
there.
You'll never come to the end ofmy supply.
Think about that.
Your challenges may feeloverwhelming, but his grace
always meets the measure.
Now, we usually think God worksbest through our strengths, our
skills, our gifts, our bestdays.
But here's the upside downkingdom truth, God's power
(02:24):
shines most clearly through ourweaknesses.
Why?
Because when we're weak.
We can't pretend.
It's us holding everythingtogether.
People see God at work.
His strength gets the spotlightin those moments.
It's why he says, my power ismade perfect in weakness.
Now, Paul's response in thismoment is surprising.
(02:44):
He says, therefore, I will boastall the more gladly about my
weaknesses.
I don't know that you've heardmany people say that, right?
That's not natural.
Most of us hide our weaknesses.
We cover them, we excuse them,or we pretend they're not there.
But Paul says, I'll boast inthem because when I am weak,
Christ's power rests on me.
That word rest is beautiful.
(03:05):
It's the idea of pitching a tentor dwelling or covering that
God's power sets up camp overour lives.
When you and I, when we admitour weakness, there's an old
story about a man who carriedwater into two clay pots.
One was perfect, the other had acrack.
Every day, the cracked potleaked water along the path.
(03:26):
The pot felt useless, ashamed ofits weakness, but one day the
man showed it.
The flowers growing along thepath, flowers that have been
watered every day by the crack.
The weakness became the channelfor beauty.
That's how God works.
He doesn't discard ourweaknesses.
He uses them as conduits for hisgrace.
(03:47):
So where do you feel weak rightnow?
Maybe it's your health.
Maybe it's your emotions.
Maybe it's in your ability tohandle the pressures of work or
family, whatever it is, thispromise says God's grace is not
just enough in theory, it'senough for that.
Instead of hiding yourweaknesses, bring it to light.
Ask God to let his power rest onyou there.
(04:08):
Here's your challenge today.
Write down one weakness you'refacing today.
Then underneath it, write thispromise word for word.
My grace is sufficient for you,for my power is made perfect in
weakness.
Us carry that reminder with you.
Let it shift your focus fromwhat you lack to what God
provides.
Let's pray.
Father, thank you that we don'thave to be strong enough.
(04:31):
Thank you that your grace ismore than enough and that your
power shines through ourweaknesses.
Help us today not to hide ourweaknesses, but to surrender
them so that Christ's power mayrest on us.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Thanks for joining me today.
If this episode encourage you,share it with someone who feels
like their weaknesses,disqualify them, remind them it
(04:52):
may actually be the very placewhere God wants to show his
strength.
Welcome to be on Sunday and day 28, anchored
in God's promises.
This month we've been walkingthrough some of the most
powerful promises in scripture,truths that remind us we are
never without hope, neverwithout help, and never without
God's presence.
Today's verse is one of thesepromises that cuts right against
how our culture thinks.
It's second Corinthians 12,nine, but he said to me, my
(00:58):
grace is sufficient for you, formy power is made perfect in
weakness.
Therefore, I will boast all themore gladly about my weaknesses
so that Christ's power may reston me.
Paul wrote these words afterdescribing what he called his
thorn in the flesh.
Now, truth is we don't knowexactly what it was.
(01:19):
Some think it was a physicalailment.
Paul had been through a lot.
Others think it was a recurringhardship that he experienced.
Whatever it was.
Paul prayed three times for Godto take it away, but instead of
removing the thorn.
God gave Paul a promise.
The promise is this, my grace issufficient for you.
That reminds us, sometimes Goddoesn't change our
(01:40):
circumstances, but he changes usthrough the circumstances.
Now, the word grace here isn'tjust about forgiveness.
It's God's active help, hisstrength and presence in the
middle of weakness.
Sufficient means enough, notlacking, not barely scraping by,
but fully adequate.
God is saying, whatever youface, my grace will meet you
(02:03):
there.
You'll never come to the end ofmy supply.
Think about that.
Your challenges may feeloverwhelming, but his grace
always meets the measure.
Now, we usually think God worksbest through our strengths, our
skills, our gifts, our bestdays.
But here's the upside downkingdom truth, God's power
(02:24):
shines most clearly through ourweaknesses.
Why?
Because when we're weak.
We can't pretend.
It's us holding everythingtogether.
People see God at work.
His strength gets the spotlightin those moments.
It's why he says, my power ismade perfect in weakness.
Now, Paul's response in thismoment is surprising.
(02:44):
He says, therefore, I will boastall the more gladly about my
weaknesses.
I don't know that you've heardmany people say that, right?
That's not natural.
Most of us hide our weaknesses.
We cover them, we excuse them,or we pretend they're not there.
But Paul says, I'll boast inthem because when I am weak,
Christ's power rests on me.
That word rest is beautiful.
(03:05):
It's the idea of pitching a tentor dwelling or covering that
God's power sets up camp overour lives.
When you and I, when we admitour weakness, there's an old
story about a man who carriedwater into two clay pots.
One was perfect, the other had acrack.
Every day, the cracked potleaked water along the path.
(03:26):
The pot felt useless, ashamed ofits weakness, but one day the
man showed it.
The flowers growing along thepath, flowers that have been
watered every day by the crack.
The weakness became the channelfor beauty.
That's how God works.
He doesn't discard ourweaknesses.
He uses them as conduits for hisgrace.
(03:47):
So where do you feel weak rightnow?
Maybe it's your health.
Maybe it's your emotions.
Maybe it's in your ability tohandle the pressures of work or
family, whatever it is, thispromise says God's grace is not
just enough in theory, it'senough for that.
Instead of hiding yourweaknesses, bring it to light.
Ask God to let his power rest onyou there.
(04:08):
Here's your challenge today.
Write down one weakness you'refacing today.
Then underneath it, write thispromise word for word.
My grace is sufficient for you,for my power is made perfect in
weakness.
Us carry that reminder with you.
Let it shift your focus fromwhat you lack to what God
provides.
Let's pray.
Father, thank you that we don'thave to be strong enough.
(04:31):
Thank you that your grace ismore than enough and that your
power shines through ourweaknesses.
Help us today not to hide ourweaknesses, but to surrender
them so that Christ's power mayrest on us.
In Jesus' name, amen.
Thanks for joining me today.
If this episode encourage you,share it with someone who feels
like their weaknesses,disqualify them, remind them it
(04:52):
may actually be the very placewhere God wants to show his
strength.
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