“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

(II Corinthians 12:9 ESV)

This scripture was the foundation of my devotion this morning, and it was a reminder not to rely on my own strength. I am so guilty of this. In this chapter of II Corinthians, Paul was afflicted, having a thorn in his side, and he had begged God to remove it. Although, God did not remove it, He reassured Paul that His grace was all Paul needed. He also reminded Paul that His power works best in Paul’s weakness.

This message was not just for Paul. It is also for us. The fact that God’s power is displayed in our weaknesses should give us courage and hope. When I woke up this morning, all I could think about were things I had to do. I did not have the mental strength to grasp it all. Wednesdays I work in the field, which usually consists of a lot of driving and a lot of walking.  The only difference today was my air had gone out. I tried not to think too hard about it. Thankfully, God did not make this one of His “too hot” days. As I am driving, I am jamming Anthony Brown’s Blessings on Blessings. After making a few stops to meet some clients, I slightly ran over pothole. Now do not get me wrong, I am not one of those “deep saints”, but I am here to tell you that the pothole blessed my whole life because somehow it made my air conditioner start up. Hahahaha!! Whew! God did that!

Finally, while headed to the office, I am reminded that I have a Starbucks gift card, so I stop and order a refresher someone suggested to me. I informed the Starbucks representative that I have never ordered a beverage from them before and I was looking for something fruity and refreshing. After I drive up to the window to pay, she tells me she has something better for me to try. She hands it out of the window and tells me to taste it before leaving. I took a sip and instantly fell in love! After attempting to hand her my gift card, she says “you’re good. Have a good day”. I could not make it out of the parking lot before I started crying. While I am ripping and running, trying to operate in my own strength, God stopped me in my tracks to remind me no matter how strong I think I am, my strength is limited.

As we recognize our limitations, we will depend more on God for our effectiveness rather than on our own energy, effort, or talent. Our limitations not only help develop Christian character but also deepen our worship, because in admitting them, we affirm God’s strength. All I could do was thank God for ALWAYS being mindful of me. He made sure I had air, my meetings were productive, and He treated me at Starbucks. All glory goes to Him!

So, if you are reading this, my prayer is that no matter how strong you are in abilities or resources, you are not tempted to do God’s work on your own. May we always be mindful that allowing God to fill us with His power, will make us more effective for Him and will help us do work that has lasting value.

Much Love,

Valencia