Boasting in Weakness

Life can sometimes get you down.   Sometimes we start to wonder what our purpose is, if there is any reason to our existence.  But we don't let other people know.  We put up a facade and pretend nothing is wrong.  We often exist in two extremes: thrasonical on the outside but self-deprecating on the inside.  At this point, life seems worthless, pointless, and having nothing you can do worth doing.
But have you ever considered that this may be exactly where God wants you, that he put you in a low point for a specific reason?  2 Corinthians 12 tells the story of how Paul had seen a vision of heaven and then God had given him a "thorn in his flesh" (most likely figurative) to keep him from becoming too conceited.  Paul pleaded with God three times to take it away from him.  But God had other plans.  He said to Paul: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."  Paul's response was not complaints, but rather an amazing tribute to what God's grace can do.  Paul said: "Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."
God doesn't often work with us when we are self-confident, thinking our lives are working great, and loving it.  Rather, look at how Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 1:26-29: "Brothers, think of what you were when you were called.  Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were influential, not many were of noble birth.  But, God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."
Remember, Christ works through weakness.  Let yourself be open to what God has for you to do; not of your own strength, but empowered in Him, and then go rejoicing, boasting in your weakness and Christ's strength.
Be blessed today!
Melody Grace