He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
No one likes to feel powerless. Yet in times like these, we are all faced with this absolute biblical truth: We are powerless! We like to think we are in control of our lives until something like COVID-19 smacks us upside the head, reminding us that we are not. But there is a Power that can give us great comfort when we feel most powerless. I’ve quoted Steve Brown here before, who likes to say, “God is bringing you to the end of yourself” . . . to which I add, “And the sooner the better!”
Powerlessness is actually power beyond measure, because that is the place where we acknowledge that we are not in control of our lives. Daniel flatly told Belshazzar that “God . . . holds your breath in His hand and owns all your ways” (Daniel 5:23 NKJV), and what was true for the king of Babylon is just as true for you and me.
But before going on, know this: powerlessness is not—most definitely not—a place to pull over on your life’s journey and put your life in “Park.” It is however, the place that opens the door that will connect you with the one true Power in the universe, and His name is Jesus Christ. This is the place where surrender intersects with strength—true strength, a God-honoring strength—a power that will never flicker, falter, or fail us. This was the place where Paul lived his life of service to the Savior, for he knew well that “When I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).
Beloved, God is as all-powerful as He is all-present, even in the midst of this pandemic and even when it looks as if He is not engaged. But think back; He did not look all-powerful when the young shepherd boy laid aside armor and sword, taking only a sling and 5 smooth stones to face the giant Goliath. But He was! God did not look all-powerful when a little boy handed over his five loaves of bread and two fish to Jesus to feed a crowd of thousands. But He was! Make no mistake, our God will always appear underwhelming to the watching world. And that is the way He most likes to work, so that when the victory is achieved, there can be no doubt as to Who was responsible for it.
We will get to the other side of this virus, by God’s grace and by practicing our mandated social distancing and the “stay-at-home” orders. But when we do, remember that it was God who brought us through. To be sure, He has provided every means available for us to be responsible citizens of this world as we love our neighbors and obey our civil magistrates. But it is our all-powerful God whose power is made perfect in our weakness. And so let us “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” (Ephesians 6:10).
To my church family, I can only say that you have no idea how much I miss you and how much I love you. You are in my prayers and in my heart.
Purpose and Passion,
Pastor Tommy
Grace for the Race 