Power In Weakness

“Satan knows your name, but he calls you by your sin. God knows your sin, but HE calls you by your name.”

- Unknown

I’ve had some conversations recently where people wondered if they were a good enough Christian, spouse, parent, employee… person. They struggled with their shortcomings and failures, constantly pointing out where they had fallen short. As a result, they felt inadequate about who they are and their various roles in life.

We are sinners, and we will fall short of perfection. The Apostle Paul writes in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” However, God loves us despite our sin, our failures and our shortcomings. Because of what Jesus has done for us, we no longer wear the labels of sinner or failure. Instead, we now wear the labels of Child of God, Saint, and a Chosen People.” Eugene Peterson writes in The Message, “God doesn’t count us, He calls us by name” (Romans 9:28).

We matter to God, and we have value in Him. Sure, we will make mistakes and fall short at times, but as the Apostle Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10,

“But He [Jesus] 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. 10 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.”

When someone questions whether or not they love Jesus enough, or are a good parent or spouse, often my advice to them is this, “If you are concerned about it, that is typically a good indication you are on the right track. It is those who are not concerned that should be worried.”

So, when you find yourself down this week, and you are questioning your worth, your value and your adequacy, remember that, in Christ, you are loved.

You matter to God, and He will strengthen you by His Right Hand to become who He created you to be – a good spouse, a good parent, a good employee… a good person.

Pastor Ken

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