9But he 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. II Cor 12.9-10
In my old yearbooks, my friends used to write phrases like, “Don’t study too hard over the summer; try to have some fun” and “Don’t be such a nerd.” Yes, I was the honor roll student you beat up. You’ve heard of those organized, Type A personalities? Meet their leader.
These days, I have no idea where I’ve put my to-do list. No, correction, I can’t remember if I started a to-do list or just thought about it. I begin each day with great ambition… complete the laundry, get the groceries, read a few pages in the book I started. However, here’s the reality at the end of most days… the laundry has been put off yet again, I’ve managed to serve my husband leftovers one more time for dinner and maybe in six months, I’ll get that book completed.
You’ve probably guessed it by now; I’m the mama of a toddler. Please tell me, did they pull us off to the side and explain to us in school just how hard and all-consuming it would be as a mother? I must have been absent that day. No, that’s not true; I usually got the perfect attendance record each year (uggh, someone stop me)!
I’ve had the great pleasure of meeting so many moms through church and play groups these past few years. And can I just tell you every woman seems to have it so much more together than I do? Do you ever feel that way?
OK, maybe I’ve taken some writer’s liberties and embellished a few details in my saga, but not much, I tell you. However, in the midst of this craziness and my lack of control, God uses me! I’m so excited about this discovery. Even when my act is not together, He uses me! When I think what I’m offering Him is a comical substitute for holiness, He makes me glorious. Taking my attempts and ministering to others. And my toddler, she is actually thriving.
So, let my experience minister to your hearts and your own crazy lives. When we are weak, He is strong. When we don’t have it together, His power comes and rests on us. Initially, this isn’t comforting news to us Type A ladies. But in our souls, we know it’s THE Good News. Because it’s furthering His kingdom. And that’s way better than being the perfect student, the perfect mom, the perfect attendance certificate-getter… it’s better than anything!
