by Tina Kramer
October 9, 2024
Memory Lane
2009
Pirates and treasure maps-what boy doesn’t become excited when he hears those words? My boys are no exception. The eldest brother, Kenny, creates a plan.
He wades to an island in the river, a purple box filled with coins in one hand and a shovel in the other.
He finds the spot and starts digging.
Months later, Kenny and his family return. The water level has risen and as he digs for his treasure, he soon discovers the purple box lying in a pool of liquid. The box is opened and the “booty” is rescued. Wide-eyed with wonder, the boys tromp back to the van filled with elation at this thrilling treasure-hunting adventure.
Digging for treasure is what we are going to do today. We are going to dig into God’s Word and find something more exciting than a few coins. Are you ready to dig with me?
Two blogs prior, I asked a question about this verse: “My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9) What does it mean?
What is the context of this verse? Who is speaking?
The apostle Paul is sharing about his “thorn in the flesh” that he pleaded with God three times to remove. Think about the word, pleaded. Paul pleaded with God to remove his suffering. Have you ever pleaded with God for something?
What was God’s response? God did not grant Paul’s request. Instead, God had something better He intended to give Paul. God gave him His strength. God gave him His power to endure the suffering. God gave Paul His grace to overcome his suffering.
God wants you and I to be overcomers. That means at times that God will say “No” to us when we plead for him to remove us from a painful experience.
We don’t like pain. We often run from problems. But God’s plan is to take us through the problems and pain to the other side.
What do you think is waiting for you after you overcome your difficulties?
If we were in a class, I would go up to the white board and write down your responses. Since I am not in front of a class, I will ask my family for suggestions.
Sean, my husband, says joy and laughter await us. He shares this passage:
Psalm 126: 5-6
Those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy.
Those who go out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them.
Through a texting conversation, my mom, Paula, shares her perspective. From her text, two words stand out: Courage and Fortitude. Through our difficulties, God gives us strength to become courageous and to grow in fortitude against our adversary.
The theme of my blog is healinghope4women- a journey to wholeness in Christ.
I have been praying for years that God would make me whole. I knew that inside me were numerous layers of brokenness that I could not fix. For two years I have walked through the process of trauma therapy. God has used it to bring healing. Now God is taking me to another level of healing. Through this season of uncertain health problems, God is stretching my faith. He is using these difficulties to make me whole and complete in Him.
Let’s go back to the verse in Corinthians.
“My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9)
Do you know what the word “perfect” means in this context?
“The word translated as “perfected” here is teleitai, which mostly refers to completion or accomplishment. The focus is on something being achieved, not having flaws removed. This is the same root word used by Christ when declaring “it is finished” from the cross.” https://www.bibleref.com/2-Corinthians/12/2-Corinthians-12-9.html
“The words made perfect in 2 Corinthians 12:9 mean ‘fully or entirely accomplished or made complete.’ Christ’s power is made complete—it is able to fully accomplish its purpose—when His people are weak and depend on Him for strength. When we, like Paul, stop resisting and complaining and let the power of Christ rest on us, we make room to receive countless unexpected blessings from the Lord. By allowing God’s strength to be made perfect in our weakness, we have the opportunity to display God’s glory flawlessly. ‘The grace and power of God interlock with human lives at the point of mortal weakness,’ writes Barnett (op. cit., p. 179).” https://www.gotquestions.org/strength-made-perfect-in-weakness.html
Let me repeat that important sentence: “Christ’s power is made complete-it is able to fully accomplish its purpose-when His people are weak and depend on Him for strength.”
Are you ready to be made whole? Do you long for the power of Christ to strengthen you for the hard times you are going through?
Father God,
Here we are. We are broken and hurting. We are often filled with fear and dread. Your Word says that Your strength is made perfect in weakness. We come to You at this moment and ask that You would fully accomplish Your purpose in our lives. We choose to get out of the driver’s seat and let You take the wheel. In confidence, we trust in Your goodness. In faith, we trust in Your love for us. Even in the pain, we choose to hold on tight to Your hand and let You lead us through the storm.
In Jesus’ Precious Name,
Amen
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Photo at top of blog is from our trip to Maine this summer.
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