. . . then I am strong.

…to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 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…For when I am weak, then I am strong.      (2 Corinthians 12:7-9,10b)

The apostle Paul has a good message for us in the Scripture above. Nobody knows exactly what he meant when he talked about the “thorn” in his flesh, but it’s believed to have been some kind of physical problem that held him back from doing what he wished. He prayed three times for healing. The answer he received was that all he needed was God’s grace. In his weakness—his disability—God’s power would do its best work.

We are all broken somehow. No one is excluded. Each of us has some kind of “thorn,” disability, illness, or difficulty.

Paul said, “For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Sometimes God can even accomplish greater things through our disability than if we were perfectly healthy.

What could we do to make the most of what we have? We will find that there is still much we can do if we have the determination.

Since 2018, I’ve been trying to revive what was at one time the Living Room peer support movement. Why? Because I know that its message of Christ’s unconditional love is healing for those who struggle.

But I do need individuals to stand beside me—those who have Christ’s love inside them—to join me in the work God called me to. They will need faith and God-given courage. Such followers will find that nothing could be more meaningful.

You have heard me speak much about Living Room and it is slowly becoming a reality.

I recently started a group in the retirement home where I’m living out the last part of my life. It’s going better all the time. God is there with us at our weekly meetings. And we’re learning about his great love for us.

In my weakness, God is doing his greatest work in me. And I know that all things are possible with him.

marja