He Empties that We Might Be Full

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.

I take pleasure in my weaknesses...

For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Cor 12:9-10

There is such a difference between

believing the truth of this Scripture

and living its truth.

Before the Lord told Paul that

His power works best in weakness,

Paul begged the Lord to remove 

the "messenger from Satan"

that was causing him weakness.

Taking pleasure in weakness

 isn't a natural response.

Weakness comes in so many forms--

loss, disappointment, sickness, transitions--

that we can feel empty and out of control

before we discern He may be 
helping us to embrace weakness.

We begin to beg the Lord to remove it.

But if we can sit down in the midst 
of our feelings, identify weakness,

and allow Him to empty us of anything 
that is our own self-sufficient strength,

perhaps pleasure can come 

alongside and fill us instead.

I know that the Lord is emptying me

of sources of strength that are not Him.

It is so that the power of Christ can work in me.

And I want that even if I don't like 

how it feels right now.

I have surrendered my life to Him

and He is emptying me 

so that He can fill me with grace.

Because that's how His power works best.

Lord, help me take pleasure in these days.

You are good and You want me

to experience the fullness of Your strength.

In Your Kingdom where things appear backwards,

I get emptied in preparation to be filled.

Help my life reflect Your truth:

"My grace is all you need."

The Lord is like a father to his children,
    tender and compassionate to those who fear Him.

For He knows how weak we are.

Psalm 103:13-14