2nd Corinthians 12:10 “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
We briefly looked at this verse last night at Bible study and it really stuck out to me. Paul has been discussing how that when he is shown to be weak, Christ is shown to be strong. Our weakness amplifies the glory of Jesus Christ.
So how does this work? When we are put through the hard trials of life and we are able to exemplify complete trust in Jesus Christ (which produces joy) DURING the trails, the world (the lost) are shocked and dumbfounded by this. The result is that the evidence of Christ in our lives is magnified. As we respond to trials in TRUST, rather than the anxiety, panic, and depression that the world exhibits when faced with trials, people cannot help but stand in awe and wonder who this Jesus Christ is!
So what situations is Paul talking about specifically? Number one, he says infirmities. When the world is sick, ill, or disabled, they usually respond in a “woe is me” type attitude. Depression and utter disappointment are shown in the individual. If we respond the same way it can lead to a person looking at us and saying, “What good is Christ? That Christian is just as miserable as I am.” This does a great disservice to our God!
Instead, if we resolve in our hearts that it is CHRIST who is in control of all things and He IS working all things for our good (including our sicknesses, diseases, and disabilities…i.e. infirmities), then we can stand in TRUST. We can KNOW that God is using this infirmity to glorify Himself and produce Christ-like character in us (that is the goal of sanctification). So in response to these things, Paul says that we should have JOY. TRUE trust leads to joy. If you KNOW that God is going to use your situation to make you holier and to magnify His name amongst the lost, then it should cause us to REJOICE in the face of troubles. DOUBT (faithlessness) destroys that joy by whispering in our ears, “yeah, but what if _____ (fill in the blank with whatever anxiety you can think of).” But if we give into that doubt, then we fall right back into the same attitude that the lost have. And the image that creates to the lost world is that we are no better off than they. Our hope is no more real than theirs. Lord let it not be so!
The second obstacle Paul discusses is reproaches. I think this word can have two different connotations. It can mean criticism (a negative reproach against us) and it can mean reprimand (a positive reproach against us). How we respond to BOTH is important.
The second obstacle Paul discusses is reproaches. I think this word can have two different connotations. It can mean criticism (a negative reproach against us) and it can mean reprimand (a positive reproach against us). How we respond to BOTH is important.
If the world is criticized, it usually responds in bitterness or hurt. Either their pride says, “Who is this person to speak against ME,” or it causes the person to feel attacked. And if the world is corrected, they respond in the same way. Either prideful indignation or bitter hurt.
If we respond in the same way, what kind of witness is that? Again Paul (by way of the Holy Spirit) says that OUR RESPONSE should be joy. When we are faced with criticism or reprimand, our hearts should say, “God is going to get glory in SPITE of me!” In other words, when we “mess up” and bring criticism (reproach) upon ourselves, and we brush it off recognizing that God is the ONLY one we need to please, the world again stands in awe.
The third issue is necessities. Paul here is talking about being WITHOUT the things we need. When the world is faced with financial struggles, hunger, thirst, etc., their response is one of desperation and depression. Again the “woe is me” attitude shows forth. The mindset is “WHAT AM I GOING TO DO!” It represents hopelessness.
When we exhibit the same attitude in the face of these issues, what does it say to the world in regards to our God? It makes a HORRIBLE witness. BUT IF WE RESPOND IN TRUST! If we again realize that God is in control. He produced money out of a fishes mouth and rained manna from Heaven in the desert. He is ABLE to provide for us. We cannot panic. When we REMEMBER THAT God is in control, and keep in mind that God is working for us, we can REJOICE in these situations. Recognizing that if we are in no win situations, when God brings us out it will AMAZE the world. And when we patiently wait for God, KNOWING that HE IS going to work for us, it causes joy and excited anticipation! The world cannot understand that and it glorifies Christ!
The fourth thing is persecutions. People by nature hate to be the odd ball. No one wants to be excluded and mocked. As a result, when the world is persecuted they respond in one of two ways. One, they change their ways/ideas. They adapt to the ways/ideas of the world and drop whatever notion it was that was causing them persecution. Or two, they HIDE whatever it is that is causing persecution in fear.
If we respond the same way, we do a great disservice to the Lord. Instead, we should recognize the great HONOR it is to suffer for our King. We should see it as a TREMENDOUS proof of the salvation that is in us. When we face persecution, we should remember our King and be in awe that we get to follow in His footsteps. This will utterly confuse the world and cause them to glorify the Creator!
The last thing is distresses. This means suffering and pain. How does the world respond to such things? Usually in gloom and despair. Again, if we respond in like manner, what does it say about our God?
But if we are able to patiently and joyfully endure, God is MAGNIFIED! If we can take the painful and despairing situations and remember that we serve the King of all things, and that HE PROMISES righteousness, justice, and loving kindness, then we can be assured that He is doing what is BEST even in the midst of the most painful of situations. And the world will stand in utter shock, wondering who is this King of Glory!
When we are weak, He is strong is how Paul wraps this verse up. If we see our sicknesses, failures, needs/wants, sufferings, and hard times as opportunities CONTROLLED BY GOD in order to glorify His Name and produce in us holiness, then our responses to all hard situations should be in excited joy. When hard times come, God is producing an opportunity to magnify Himself in our lives. We are being given an opportunity to witness to the world the great worthiness of our God. We are saying to the world, “See these mountains in front of me? WATCH what my God can do!”
When we are weak, He is strong is how Paul wraps this verse up. If we see our sicknesses, failures, needs/wants, sufferings, and hard times as opportunities CONTROLLED BY GOD in order to glorify His Name and produce in us holiness, then our responses to all hard situations should be in excited joy. When hard times come, God is producing an opportunity to magnify Himself in our lives. We are being given an opportunity to witness to the world the great worthiness of our God. We are saying to the world, “See these mountains in front of me? WATCH what my God can do!”
So think about your situations right now and how you are reflecting your King to the world. I know the hard times I am facing and the hard times that are on the way, and I want desperately to be able to respond in joy. I want to show the world the worthiness of my God. I want to BRAG about my weakness and say, “Watch what my God is about to do.” How about you?
