2 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 10 (NIV)
That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
This verse follows on the heals of Paul’s stance yesterday when he spoke of boasting in his weaknesses. Here he talks not of boasting but to delight in his hardships, weaknesses and hardships. This coming indeed from a man with plenty experience of such. To take delight in something is to enjoy the experience. I don’t enjoy hardship, weakness, or the restrictions of my disability. I take delight in other things like crafting and baking. Yet I can rejoice at seeing God at work, so why shouldn’t I take delight that He can move through the very things, which left to my own devices, I would avoid? God’s ways are different from ours. He takes delight in using us in situations we would run from, and when we look back, take stock and see how His hand has moved, we can take delight too. Except God wants us to do it in real time, not retrospectively. That’s the hard bit. But we have plenty of past experience to encourage us to do so!
Dear Lord,
Thank You that You delight to use us in our weakness and times of difficulty. Help me to share that delight. Change my attitude in such times to have an expectation of seeing You at work in the midst of my hard times. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.