Weakness & Strength

G understood so many things better than I do, and one of those things was walking with Jesus.

Illness has a way of clarifying things - showing you how weak and dependent you really are. I wonder if anything is more humbling than severe terminal illness, especially when accompanied by mental illness. You can't just dig deeper, try harder, "reach for the stars" or whatever the self-help phrase of the day is. You're dependent, unable, helpless, weak, scared, needy, vulnerable.

Over lunch today I was watching an interview that G did about 1 year before he died. He was doing fairly well (for him) at this point. Definitely was not thinking his life would end before the next calendar year was over. But he had learned many lessons over the years about suffering and living life as a follower of Jesus.

He said this:

"Relying on Jesus for every day for everything is not weakness, it's Gospel strength".

G lived that out. He relied on Jesus.

I am so quick to rely on myself and then get completely burned out because I am just not strong enough. I needed this reminder today.

"But 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

- 2 Corinthians 12:9-11