Eyes Wide Open: 40-Day Lenten Devotional Sample

The Power of Acknowledging Our Weakness

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9

The Bible clearly teaches us that God’s power is made perfect in our weakness and not our strength. Ironically, this seems to go against not only our natural proclivity, but that of our churches as well. There is a subtle, yet ubiquitous narrative influencing the church today, and it is directly responsible for grace continually falling by the wayside. 

As the selfie generation, we’ve become experts at editing our sins. We don’t realize that when we euphemize our sins, we diminish the cross and the one who once hung there.  

The good news of the gospel is the fact that Jesus came for those who are sick, sinful, and broken, not those who are healthy, moral, or whole. We’ve got to remember that the church is called to be an ER for the sick, and not a fashion show for the moral elite. I believe we can all contribute someway to make this a reality again, for a world desperately need of grace.  

First, let’s work to confess our struggles to one another rather than trying to hide them.   

Yes, it will hurt our pride, but that’s exactly why we should do it. It will bring light into the darkness and, with it, healing and restoration into our lives and the world. 

Second, let’s work to make Jesus the one and only hero of the church. When we boldly boast in our weaknesses, we eliminate any ambiguity to who the actual hero is in our story. Yes, this is easier said than done, but the truth is humility never once felt good to me or anyone else. Humility is in fact poisonous to our pride and lust for control, but it’s also the very place where God’s grace begins to take its stride.

Prayer: Lord, help me boasts all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. Amen.

- Written by Sam Kim