Written by Sandra A.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
Perhaps this verse is not very often what we want to meditate on as believers. Some will focus on the word weakness, others will focus on finding grace for what we need, and others may land at the most profound aspect of this verse, and that is to find that God actually makes Himself perfect when we surrender our limitations and weaknesses.
I recently went through another season of indescribable physical hardship due to several back-to-back accidents during the last half of 2025. of these happenings made me reflect on a particularly difficult lesson that shaped my walk very early on in my journey with the Lord. During my second year of ministry, I learned a life-changing lesson on embracing weaknesses and limitations through God’s perspective. His perspective teaches us to exchange what we lean on in our own strength for His strength over our own.
A Difficult Lesson Early in Ministry
Let’s go back to that first lesson. In 1996, I began traveling extensively to Latin American countries to conduct a series of evangelistic outreaches on a national level. It was during this time that I encountered a food source that was contaminated with an amoeba. Very unfortunately, after ingesting the food, I became increasingly ill over a period of nine months that would leave me seriously stricken with constant intestinal pain and damage to recover from.
About a year later, although not fully recovered, I accepted an invitation to travel to Bolivia under restricted conditions. However, even though on limited duty, I fell ill during the trip and found myself once again dealing with unbearable pain.
I would manage to preach a message under duress about the Road to Emmaus and how very often we proceed blindly in our faith mixed with loss without realizing the presence and power of Jesus in our midst—working all the time and in all things to open our eyes.
A Cry to God in the Middle of Pain
I was able to complete the message and yet, gripped with pain, entered a bathroom and cried out:
“Lord, I can’t continue like this. I will have to return to the US and resign from my ministry position.”
It was in that moment that I heard in my heart:
“Give me your pain.”
“My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:10 (AMP)
But He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.”
So I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength].
God’s Power Revealed
Returning to the event, I was greeted by a young 19-year-old woman who, in tears, told me she intended to commit suicide that very evening and was crying out for help.
I was able to speak with her, minister to her, and pray with her. The Lord broke so many things over her life in that moment. When we finished, she was free.
And something else happened.
of my physical pain vanished.
I left her in the care of one of the hosts, overwhelmed by what God had just done.
A Perspective That Changed Forever
After that night, the way I saw the hand of God in challenges, obstacles, and real hardship changed forever.
Never again would I say to the Lord that I could not continue because of my limitations.
Instead, I understood something profound:
In the midst of my limitations, God manifests Himself mightily.
“My power works best in weakness.” (NLT)
Maybe what I am about to say next will resonate with you about the things we all must do from time to time.
I had to pull myself together in the midst of striking physical circumstances. None of the people waiting outside knew about my private pain. They had come to receive from God. Faith and expectation were literally pulling on the anointing of the Holy Spirit to saturate that church.
I want to say here how common it is for so many of us to have real personal battles in the midst of showing up faithful and yet we are outwardly sustained by God every day to do what we are called to do. We do it so well. We are more than a brave face. We are able to do it because of His grace.
Paul didn’t like feeling weak, but he knew it was the pathway to grace and true power. God cares about the limitations that we face. He will continue to transform any weakness that is given to Him. And when we do so, God’s strength responds all around us, working through it all, and will become the most evident testimony in it all.
SELAH
