Weakness. Just reading that word might make you wince a little. It’s not something we celebrate. Not something we post about. It’s the thing we hide.

But what if we’ve gotten it all wrong?

Paul’s Thorn & a Radical Redefinition

In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Apostle Paul shares something that flips the script:

But He (that’s God) 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.
— 2 Corinthians 12:9

Boast in weakness? That’s not just countercultural—it’s almost offensive. Especially in a world where strength is currency and self-sufficiency is the goal.

But Paul isn’t just being poetic here. He’s offering a radically different way to live:
Practicing the art of embracing weakness.

Why We Resist Weakness

Let’s be honest: I probably lost some of you already. Because weakness is a dirty word in our world.

We’re raised to believe:

• “I have to be strong.”
• “I have to protect myself.”
• “I have only myself to rely on.”

But those hidden tracks we keep playing in our minds? They don’t lead us to freedom—they lead us to isolation. They keep us so preoccupied with ourselves that we miss out on some of the most beautiful gifts God offers:
A shoulder to lean on. Shelter from harm. Community. Grace.

Where These Tracks Begin

These beliefs often begin in painful places—moments where we were let down, abandoned, or hurt. But they’re kept alive by the images we see and the ideas we rehearse: that stronger is better, that independence is maturity, that weakness equals failure.

Paul knew what it felt like to be misunderstood and undervalued. He planted the church in Corinth—but after he left, others came in who looked the part better. They were flashier, louder, more “impressive.” Super-apostles.

And Paul? He had a thorn in the flesh. Suffering. Imperfection. Humility.

Yet look how he responds:

“I have made a fool of myself, but you drove me to it. I ought to have been commended by you, for I am not in the least inferior to the ‘super-apostles,’ even though I am nothing.”
— 2 Corinthians 12:11

Paul knew he wasn’t less than—but he also knew he was nothing. Not in a self-pitying way, but in a Christ-centered way. Because none of it was about him. It was always about Jesus. Always about the Gospel.

Uncovering the Lies

Can you see the cultural assumptions Paul is uncovering?

• That money makes someone more valuable.
• That appearance and eloquence equal authority.
• That those who don’t suffer are somehow better Christians.

Paul’s message is piercing: You’ve got it all backwards.

Strength isn’t found in pretending you’re fine.
It’s found in admitting your need.
It’s found in Christ resting on you—not because you’ve got it all together, but because you don’t.

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Reflective Questions:

1. What lies have shaped your understanding of strength and weakness?
2. What would it look like for you to “boast in your weakness” this week—and trust that God’s power shows up there?

Thanks for Listening,

Starla