We had a beautiful message today from our former Pastor and dear friend, Doane Brubaker. The message God placed on his heart was one of those "right word and the right time" sermons. The message was from one of Paul's letters later in his life.
"So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.
But 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." -2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Pride, independence, and stubbornness can keep us from submitting to the will and authority of God. We want to do things our way and in our time. Sometimes, He has other plans. We can fight it, (and I have) but his way is truly the best way. Too often, it is through the brokenness and trials that we finally say "not my will, but thy will be done." He waits.
A story in the sermon reminded me of a print I love by one of my favorite artists. Mary Engelbreit shows a cracked hanging pot that has obviously leaked because below it beautiful flowers are blooming. I could not find the print, but I found an image of a cracked pot that resulted in flowers growing at the bottom of the crack. I think it is even more beautiful than if the pot was perfect.
Life has plot twists. We can choose to lean into God's strength and rest, so that beauty can bloom in the broken places.
Today, I am grateful for the perfect strength born in weakness.
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