The Grace to Endure Weakness

Scripture — 2 Corinthians 12:6-10 (NRSV)

But if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, 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.

Devotion

Despite our best efforts to ensure financial security, prove ourselves, build relationships, or do “good,” life remains scary and challenging, and we are vulnerable. Relationships are often a struggle to maintain, and many of us are uncertain about our futures, especially amid persecution and hardship. So how do we stay encouraged in seasons filled with so much weakness?

If you’re anything like me, you tend to cling to control, believing that credentials, connections, or hard work can help you earn stability. However, in 2 Corinthians 12:6-10, Paul reminded the church that regardless of his qualifications (of which there were many), he knew that a Christian’s true value was not based on achievements or the approval of peers but on God’s grace and power. This power allows believers to endure hardship, embrace weaknesses, and live with praise. Paul faced constant persecution and rejection from the Corinthian church; however, he relied on the strength of the Lord, and he visited the Corinthians anyway. Instead of acting brashly or bragging about his accomplishments, Paul operated in love and preached to the people about humility, grace, and living according to the Holy Spirit (watch this Bible Project video on 2 Corinthians). Paul’s story teaches us that God cares about us enough to allow thorns in our sides that keep us humble, obedient, and dependent on Jesus Christ rather than our own strength—so that, in the face of adversity, we can boast about our weaknesses and unapologetically complete the good work God has for us.

I still remember what life was like for me five years ago. I was on top of the world, living and working in New York City; then the COVID-19 pandemic happened. I was laid off from my job and was forced to move back home with my parents, moving further until we all settled in a small town in Georgia for a better quality of life. I avoided social media for months out of embarrassment that I wouldn’t appear “successful” to friends and frenemies.

Still, that season of difficulty gave me the grace to rediscover my passions, build new friendships, and cultivate a genuine relationship with the Lord. It also gave me a new perspective on journeying with God through environments out of my comfort zone and onto a career and faith path I never thought possible. Although I was grateful when God allowed me to start working and earning money again, I often reflect on that era, appreciating how God used that time of vulnerability to remold me into his image. While I grieved the short-term loss of independence, popularity, and financial security, I’ve gained the ability to brag—not about myself, but about God’s grace, which, like Paul, taught me how to remain faithful, embrace my weaknesses, and overcome tough seasons with the strength of the Lord.

Find all Life for Leaders devotions here. Explore what the Bible has to say about work at the unique website of our partners, the Theology of Work Project. Reflection on today’s Life for Leaders theme can be found here: Assessing Performance (2 Corinthians 10–13) .