How Can It Be That “When I Am Weak, Then I Am Strong”?

2 Corinthians was a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the Church at Corinth. It was a predominantly Gentile church, and this letter was not his first one to that group. His first was full of concern and condemnation, because the church was struggling with sin, vice, and what it meant to leave the pagan Greek gods and follow Christ in earnest.

Many scholars believe there was another letter between what was codified in the Bible as 1 and 2 Corinthians, but that it was mostly lost, and not inspired by the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote, “And I wrote as I did, so that when I came I might not suffer pain from those who should have made me rejoice, for I felt sure of all of you, that my joy would be the joy of you all. For I wrote to you out of much affliction and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to cause you pain but to let you know the abundant love that I have for you” (2 Corinthians 2:3-4).

“For even if I made you grieve with my letter, I do not regret it — though I did regret it, for I see that that letter grieved you, though only for a while” (2 Corinthians 7:8). This letter of grief could be 1 Corinthians, or it could be another letter, but if it was another letter God did not lead the early church to canonize it. This letter is much more positive than 1 Corinthians, full of encouragement, and not condemnation.

In Chapter 11, Paul begins to speak about his suffering as an Apostle for Christ, saying, “Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast… If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness” (2 Corinthians11:17, 30). He speaks about receiving beatings and being imprisoned. He calls himself a fool. Then he recounts a moment of “a man” – Paul himself – who was caught up to Paradise, and given a vision of Heaven and many great revelations.

To be kept humble after being given a glimpse of God’s glorious home, he was given a “thorn in the flesh.” Scholars believe it was a physical pain or weak eyesight, to remind him that he is only human, and no better than men and women who have not been given this vision. He asked the Lord to remove this thorn. He records his response, and this is where he says, “when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Paul wrote: “But [the Lord] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I [Paul] will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

Paul is strong when he is weak because when he is weak, God’s grace is most powerful.

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God works through His people. The Bible is a testimony to this fact, and many Christians see it in their lives. Some people have the strength to accomplish things on their own. Someone who is strong can accomplish something like lifting something heavy objects in their own power. A person gifted with powerful intellect can solve a problem without going to God in prayer. When someone is endowed with great patience, it is good when they do not react to aggression, but it comes easy to them.

All of these people can give glory to God in their accomplishments of strength, intelligence, and patience, but they can also be given credit for them. God is most glorified when someone weak does something strong, when someone without an aptitude for problem solving comes forward with the right solution, when someone who is given over to anger walks away from an argument. They did not do those things in their own power, but through the power of God, and He alone can receive the credit for them.

Paul made this point in his first letter to the Corinthians: “But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong” (1 Corinthians 1:27).

The Bible speaks about how God prefers to work through the weak, the unexpected, and the lowly:

Romans 8:26 “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”

Romans 12:19 “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’”

Philippians 4:12-13 “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Hebrews 4:14-16 “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

There are also many stories in the Bible where God uses the weak and the unexpected to do His work. None of these people lived perfect lives, but God could still use them:

Deborah: While today many use Deborah as an example of a strong empowered woman, the fact is she was probably significantly weaker physically than most of the men she was leading, and facing, in war. Culturally, no one would expect a woman to lead an army. God used her to save Israel from invasion. Her story is in Judges 4.

Gideon: God used the self-described weakest member of the smallest clan in one of the least significant tribes in Israel to free the Israelites from the Midianites, as recounted in the Book of Judges. God used Gideon and only 300 men to accomplish this feat.

The Apostles: Each of the 12 apostles was a sinner. Matthew was a tax-collector. Peter had a temper. All of them squabbled about who would be greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus used them to cast out demons, to spread the good news, and endowed them with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost when He ascended back to Heaven.

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This verse does not mean that Christians should never use their gifts, their strengths, or their abilities. Just like when the Apostle Paul wrote, “Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means!” (Romans 6:1b-2a), by no means should Christians reduce the skills and talents God has given them in order to be “weak” so God can be glorified. Instead, believers should use that which God gave them, and give Him the credit.

All people are weak because they are sinful. These weaknesses are the most apparent places where God can be glorified. Repenting of sin and going to God for forgiveness and transformation is one of the ultimate ways that someone is weak, and then strong because of the Lord’s power. He cleanses and transforms people who could not, and would not, be able to be righteous without Him. He makes the impossibly wicked like Himself.

There are also material weaknesses. Some people are poor, others chronically ill, others enslaved through addiction, and yet more still suffer under repressive and oppressive governments. When these people worship God, read their Bible, treat others with Christ-like love, and obey their Lord and Savior despite their circumstances, it is glorifying to the Lord. When they share the Gospel, when they endure, when they run the race, then God is the one who receives the glory.

In moments of temptation, desperation, or other kinds of weakness, cry out to God. The Holy Spirit indwells each disciple of Jesus, so that it may intercede for the believer, and indwell them with the supernatural ability to endure whatever is faced.

The Bible says, “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26). God loves His children, and seeks to support them and help them as they battle their temptations, experience suffering, and live in their weak flesh and dying bodies. Not only does He use these moments to sanctify someone, making them more like Him, and to strengthen them, but that He may be glorified through it.

Sources

Moore, Phil. Straight to the Heart of 1 & 2 Corinthians. Grand Rapids: Monarch Books, 2010.

Piper, John. Future Grace The Purifying Power of the Promise of God. Colorado Springs: Multnomah Books, 2012.

Wilmington, H.L. Wilmington’s Guide to the Bible. Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, 1981.

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