II Corinthians 12:9 “Each time He said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”
We have all experienced days that cause heart palpitations and migraine headaches. Maybe it began with sleeping through the alarm. On the furious trek to work, every traffic signal turned red simply out of spite. Perhaps you arrived late to work, unprepared for your morning meeting, but just in time to witness the final doughnut being snatched up. (Arghh! Hungry now till noon!) What a dreadful day! Sound familiar?
Look at the apostle Paul. He had his share of troubled days and outlines these in 2 Corinthians 11. Paul was stoned, endured multiple imprisonments and beatings, experienced numerous shipwrecks, felt hunger and thirst, lived through dangers in the wilderness, dangers from robbers, dangers in the city, and dangers from false believers.
Paul never considered these events negatively. Instead, because of where Paul placed his focus, he found glory in disaster.
Most likely you are familiar with the following saying:
Two men looked through prison bars. One saw the mud, the other, the stars.
Surely, Paul spent many hours gazing through a small window while imprisoned, if indeed he had one. If so, Paul’s view would have been quite limited. Paul could have looked down at the mud and fixated on his unfair circumstances. However, he chose to look up, and in doing so proved our focus dictates our usefulness in God’s Kingdom.
So, how did Paul’s upward focus bring glory to God even in his imprisoned state?
Paul wrote: His letters to the churches encouraged and guided not only the first century church but reach us today.
Paul witnessed: When visitors arrived to encourage Paul, he turned the visit into an opportunity to witness of a rich life in Christ.
Paul persevered: Most prisoners would be tempted to put their lives on hold, but not Paul. He redirected his attention to a different audience: his captors. Paul demonstrated to them the redemptive love of Jesus, and many believed.
How do we allow life to dictate our calling? Like Paul, do we use all our circumstances, good and bad, to the glory of God? Do we, like Paul take pleasure in infirmities, persecutions, and distresses, allowing God to showcase His amazing power through us?
Be prepared. Life will present days of misfortune. There will be times when words of misunderstanding, jealousy, and anger from friends sting us. We may feel defeated during family chaos. Perhaps our marriages, our friendships, or our jobs seem hopeless. Health issues may rob our lifestyle and leave us drowning in unpaid bills. Whatever our trials, remember the importance of an upward focus. We have a loving Father who is strongest when we are weakest. It is upon Him our focus must remain.
Father God, help us live mightily through Your strength, even at our weakest point.
Blessings,
Rita Cochrane