God shines through us at the most unlikely of times

Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, “Because of the surpassing greatness and extraordinary nature of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from thinking of myself as important, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan, to torment and harass me—to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me; but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you; for [My] power is being perfected in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 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.”

It may not make good sense to be ‘well pleased’ amidst seemingly overwhelming circumstances, as we can each fill-in-the-blanks with our own list of current hardships. Yet the Lord always knows best and is strong in us through every storm we face. May we completely trust Him, especially when we’re at our weakest.