DEVOTION – DAY 493

2 Corinthians 12:10 “Hardships As Blessings”

2 Corinthians 12:10 “That is why, for Christ’ sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then, I am strong.”

No one likes insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties – but Paul tells us he delights in them. Why does he welcome these troubles? The answer is because Paul sees weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and difficulties as opportunities to allow Jesus Christ to work through him and still triumph despite facing such troubles. This is because Jesus Christ Himself had triumphed over the greatest of challenges. 

We find this especially in the case of Jesus Christ on the cross. As Jesus was nailed to cross, everyone looking at Him would conclude that He was a loser, someone who was beaten to a pulp, whipped and abused till he is hardly recognizable. Here was someone who was an example of extreme weakness and defeat. Yet, it was at the cross that Jesus triumphed over sin and Satan. Jesus also won salvation and eternal reconciliation with God, the Father, for all who would put their faith and trust in Him as their personal Lord and Savior. Jesus at His weakest on the cross was actually at His strongest in defeating Satan and sin.

A woman had an accident and was warded in hospital. She was able to observe firsthand that many patients needed emotional and spiritual support, just as she did. Her own experience encouraged her to be active in hospital visitations after she had fully recovered. In the process, the Lord has used her to be a blessing to many patients in hospitals. 

A man committed a crime and was sentenced to a term in prison. At his weakest point in his life as he reflected on his misdeeds, he humbled himself and repented before God. He invited Jesus into His life as his Lord. After his release, he started a prison ministry helping prisoners come to know the saving grace of the Lord Jesus. He also actively raised funds to supply reading material for prisoners pointing them to the Lord. These are just two examples of people whom God had turned their weak moments into opportunities to bring about ministries that would be blessings to many. Instead of feeling sorry for themselves, they looked beyond themselves to their surroundings. They allowed God to use them to make a difference in the lives of others. 

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we worship you for you are the source of our hope, joy, peace and power. We are able to rise above our circumstances when we fix our eyes upon you and allow ourselves to be guided by you. Please help us to always turn to you in all circumstances. We pray this in the great name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. How do you look at your problems, difficulties and challenges?
  2. How should you look at your problems, difficulties, weaknesses and challenges in the light of this verse? 
  3. How has God turned a period of weakness in the past into a situation that you were blessed in the end? Share.
  4. When you next encounter a weakness, problem or difficulty, will you ask the Lord to show you how He wants you to respond, will you wait upon Him and seek His Will for you?