Strength in Weakness

Lent on the Run — Day 27

Apr 04, 2025

…but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
— 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Thanks to years of playing soccer and baseball in high school, my ankles are in rough shape. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve sprained them. Despite strength training and rehab, they remain a weak spot, often causing setbacks in my running—most recently with my Achilles.

And yet, despite this weakness, I still manage to run well. When I’m in shape and healthy, I can perform above average. That realization reminds me of an important truth: our weaknesses don’t have to define us, but they do shape how we grow.

More often than not, the things we struggle with most are the areas we work on the hardest. Or, at the very least, they push us to seek support from others who can help. Acknowledging my weak ankles means I take extra care to strengthen them, knowing they need the most grace.

The same is true in life. If we ignore our weaknesses, we miss the opportunity to experience the grace and strength Christ offers. Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that God’s grace is made perfect in weakness. It’s in our struggles—when we feel inadequate or worn down—that grace is often most tangible.

Paul even goes so far as to boast in his weaknesses. That may seem extreme, but how else do we grow? I’m not saying we should broadcast our shortcomings, but we should recognize them, learn from them, and trust that Christ’s grace is present in them.

Some weaknesses we can work on; others we must release. But in all of them, Christ is there. Where is God calling you to trust in grace through your weaknesses?