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. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV
I’ve been anxious lately. Work has piled up, finances have been stretched thin, conflicts have arisen, and I’ve had to rely a lot on others just to get through each day. I’ve been wondering, not if I’m doing enough, but if I AM enough to do what needs to be done to take care of my family, complete my work to the best of my ability, and to even keep friendships alive.
I often use a technique during my Bible reading where I first read a chunk of 6-7 verses slowly, then examine my reaction, take my reaction to God, and finally, read the verses again, asking God to show me what He wants to show me. A few mornings ago, I opened my daily verse app to 2 Timothy 1:7, “for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” A common verse of encouragement, but it just didn’t stick. Using this technique, I chose 2 Timothy 1:1-7 to review the daily verse. What caught my attention during that read wasn’t the typical verse 7, but verses 5-6: “I remember your genuine faith, for you share the faith that first filled your grandmother Lois and your mother, Eunice. And I know that same faith continues strong in you. This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…” (NLT). Timothy’s faith had been modeled through his mother and grandmother, but Paul tells him that because he holds tight to that faith personally, he should continue to grow and mature the gifts that God gave only to him. We learn from and rely on others, but we each have unique gifts and a unique faith.
In Tauren Wells’s song “Take it all back”, he says he is “holding the banner high, with the power of the Holy Ghost, I’m taking back what the enemy stole”. What I love so much about these lines is that it draws up the picture of the Standard Bearer in battle, the one holding the banner high and marching bravely forward armed with nothing but a shield, showing the warriors the way and proclaiming who they are fighting for. Wells isn’t talking about being the one who holds the victory – he’s relying on the power of God to get through the battle. I don’t always feel like I have a spirit of power, but I can rest in the reminder that God has given me gifts that are uniquely mine.
I do not have to have the strength to do what He is calling me to do. He has given me everything I need and wants to work through me to complete those tasks. God has given me a banner and a shield and told me that He will deliver the victory if I let Him fight for me in my weakness. Maybe true resilience isn’t having the strength to fix my failures. Maybe it’s surrendering in weakness all I have to Him, showing up, and walking forward.
Jennifer Burke
Jennifer works as the Science and Education Librarian at Butler University. She has been an ACL member since 2023 and currently resides in Indianapolis, IN.