I did a google search for Bible passages about faith. I selected 2 Corinthians 12:7 – 10 because of the words “for my power is made perfect in weakness”.
What I am trying gain from these discussions is a better understanding of words that are a source of so much inspiration for my Christian friends. Given the many trials we face in life we can never have enough inspirational guidances.
2 Corinthians 12:7 - 10 (New Internation Version)
7To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That 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.
I can see that focusing on weaknesses, rather than our strengths, is how we can best reach our potential. I can also see that for a believer God’s grace should be a sufficient source for overcoming the “thorns” in their flesh.
Hardships are the trials that test you, and will make your faith stronger, if you trust in, find strength in, God’s grace.
If you are able to “delight”, not turn away from, insults and persecutions, this can demonstrate the strength of your faith in God.
“For when I am weak, then I am strong”, just seems to me to be a play on words.
What is your interpretation of these verses, and how would you use them to help strengthen your faith?
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May 21, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Daily News About Religion : A few links about Religion - Thursday, 21 May 2009 16:27
[...] Bible Study – Corinthians 12:7-10 [...]
May 23, 2009 at 3:42 am
lovewillbringustogether
i love that you are able to ask such questions and earnestly desire to know ‘answers’ to them
For me, i see there is potential for confusion and mis-interpretation of those words: For when i am weak, then am i strong’
In fact one such mis-interpretation appears even in your question.
The KJV states as i have typed above.
Do you notice the ‘error’ – the differing view already?
Tiny details are often VERY important and are so easy to miss if we do not take great care.
I believe Paul’s intent was different to the one you are reading/quoting.
It may appear as mere semantics to some but i feel quite sure Paul was making a point by saying: ‘when I am weak then AM i strong’ thus highlighting that it is not ‘I’ who the strength is coming from.
Rather by weakening ourselves – or human fleshy thoughts and feelings that come from our body and the world we live in – then it is possible for the Great I AM to cause His Strength to rise within and through ‘us’ as an ‘empty’ vessel.
His Grace is sufficient for us who have Faith in Him – through Christ Jesus. and through weakening the hold of our flesh over what we think and what we do as a result.
When I am weak, then AM i strong.
Normally when we humans are insulted, or in times of hardship; when we are being or feeling persecuted or are suffering an infirmity, we take it so PERSONALLY – we identify so much with this body that we put aside our Spirit and what it has to show us, teach us.
Paul is saying that he has been made aware that such ‘weakness’ is rather to be desired in order that our body and weakness that it has of spirit is to be Overcome through the Grace of the Holy Spirit He has bestowed upon us. That that helps make us stronger and stronger in Spirit – which is to be our goal while we live.
Less of ‘me’, More of Him.
The weaker ‘we’ become the stronger He shines through us – by reason of our weaknesses, His perfection can come to be seen and glorified.
The weakness of the man Jesus who was brought so low on the Cross that He died a criminal’s death has been made such a Glorious event by His Father returning to Him Eternal Life, that a billion people today know of it and seek to follow God because of it – though not all do it quite perfectly, by reason of our weaknesses
But even they are for a purpose – His purpose in us.
We just need to be able to see it as Paul could.
Thank you for helping me see more deeply into this than i had before Ed
<B
May 24, 2009 at 6:29 pm
edfromct
Yes, the KJV of this verse, “then am I strong”, as opposed to the NIV “then I am strong”, does change how I interpret Cor 12:10. I think I will use the KJV in the future.
I look at the word “weak” and it has a negative connotation. However, if becoming weak is interpreted as a lessening of our human nature, and learning instead to rely on the Spirit within us for guidance, I can follow that reasoning.
As I weaken the hold my ego has on how I view with the world, my focus changes. I learn how to interact better with the world I live in, and the quality of my life improves.
The key point being that a Christ Follower must learn to weaken the hold their flesh has on them, and surrender to God’s grace. To learn to rely on the Holy Spirit Jesus gave them, and trust where it leads them.
“Normally when we humans are insulted, or in times of hardship; when we are being or feeling persecuted or are suffering an infirmity, we take it so PERSONALLY – we identify so much with this body that we put aside our Spirit and what it has to show us, teach us.”
I have been told on more than one occasion, after being laid-off, or dumped, “not to take it personally”. I haven’t had much luck in doing that.
I think the next person who tells me that is more likely to get a bucket of water dumped on their head, than a handshake. 
May 25, 2009 at 12:23 am
lovewillbringustogether
As I weaken the hold my ego has on how I view with the world, my focus changes. I learn how to interact better with the world I live in, and the quality of my life improves.
i think you’ve got that bit perfectly Ed – now you only need to find a way to have that awareness in the very front of your mind at ALL times ( even when you hit your thumb with a hammer, or a sexy woman gives you a great compliment – and a wink!!) and you should have little difficulty getting into heaven
Pretty much all of us do ‘take it personally’ and while we have that ‘in common’, selfish identification and possession of events and circumstances is not what will bring us together – or be in our combined best interests.
A team of ’selfish’ stars will never out-perform a team who have awareness of and appreciates the value of the other players on their ’side’ and who can pass the ball to another team-mate.
You may prefer to be a part of a human only team at present – i believe having a supernatural captain/coach can give me that ‘edge’ i need to ‘win’.
But i’d be happy to have you on my ‘team’ anytime,’Tank
<B
May 25, 2009 at 8:13 pm
edfromct
We both are on the same team Love, at least in this world.
Your Captain, Jesus, claims to be the perfect “bowler”.
Mine, Darwin, only says the pitch is level.
May 26, 2009 at 12:59 am
lovewillbringustogether
Ahhhh – i think there MAY just be a little ‘more’ to it than that Sir.
My ‘Captain’ primarily says the pitch we are playing on is a shadow of a HIGHER one that is under the complete control of His Dad…. and one day He ’s going to pick up His Bat and His Ball and go Home and turn off the light, leaving any who have not made the decision to join Him in complete everlasting darkness.
That we have but a short time to make that decision and we need to DO things to show whose side we are on.
Darwin might be right – but there are far more important things to the ‘game’ than seeing how level the pitch is.
i agree we are both ‘gentlemen’ in the same ‘Game’ Ed – but we are not quite playing by the same rules – or maybe an understanding of the ’set’ of rules – or an understanding of the object of this ‘game’? And i suspect we are also somewhat in the same ‘league’ – but not quite on the same ’side’ – although we may both have some very similar aims in this game of life.
Like true sportsmen – i think we could enjoy a beverage together as friends ‘after’ the game – assuming we are both at the same change-room
<B
May 26, 2009 at 1:09 am
lovewillbringustogether
i like the ‘team/games’ analogy but i would like to stress the MAIN point i was trying to make was about all of us keeping our ego ‘reduced’ in our priorities and maintaining the practice for as much as is possible throughout each and every day – increasing the time we spend in that condition throughout our life with practice.
By learning to do so and reducing the habit we have got into of emotionally ‘identifying’ with every situation we face – taking it ‘personally’ we have a far greater chance of doing what Jesus came to show us to do.
Our quality of life will indeed improve through a greater understanding and practice of this principle which can perhaps be encapsulated in the phrase: “Less of me’ more, of the Higher ’self’”.
<B
May 23, 2009 at 12:36 pm
ric booth
I think in our weakest moments we have nothing left within us or this world to rely on other than God. It is in that moment of surrender where our faith is strong and God’s power is seen clearly.
As far as using these verses to strengthen my faith goes, I think that is not the right question. I guess I simply acknowledge the truth of these verses, which I’ve seen born out in witnessing others in their weakness moments and from personal experiences. So now, in this rather difficult time of my journey, I find comfort in knowing these verses are at work in life, even if I cannot see how such a thing could be… … now I’m rambling.
May 24, 2009 at 1:07 pm
edfromct
Please do ramble on Ric. Your words always very thoughtful, and you speak with such honesty.
The great strength of religious faith is that it does provide the comfort that your God is always there to help guide you on your journey.
My guess is the really hard part is to truly surrender to your God’s will, and trust in his grace. In the end you will share with your loved ones the reward of internal life with your Lord. The journey to that end is, unfortunately, often not an easy one.
May 25, 2009 at 2:24 pm
Rain
“My grace is sufficient.” I find this such a beautiful reminder. Whatever I am facing. His grace is sufficient. And even when I am weak, He is strong and His grace is sufficient to cover my weakness. Wow!
May 25, 2009 at 7:52 pm
edfromct
My perception is that being a Christ Follower means learning to rely on your God’s grace to see you thorough any trial you may face in life.
It is normal, human, to fear a difficult task. Trust in the sufficiency of God’s grace and your fear will disappear.