Weakness + strength

This is the first of two guest posts whilst tehmayor is on vacation.
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"I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me. Therefore, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and constraints, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak, then I am strong." -- II Corinthians 12:9-10


First off, a disclaimer: I don't pretend to the depth of research and thoughtfulness that tehmayor shows in post after post, so I'll be exploring more of what these passages say to me personally.


As I read and re-read Paul's words about weakness and strength, it brought to mind a cultural convention that many of us -- me included -- frequently indulge in. "I look so fat in this." "I'm not very good at [something you're actually pretty good at]." "I'm sure I failed that exam." On the surface, these self-deprecating comments resemble Paul's -- aren't we boasting of our weaknesses when we do this? But most of the time, comments like this have the goal -- whether overtly or subtly -- of compelling the hearer to protest. "No, you look great in that dress!" "No, you sounded great!" "Whatever, you always say that and you always ace the exams!" Sometimes these looked-for responses are accompanied by eye-rolling, especially when they're really egregious in their attention-seeking. We know you know you didn't fail that test. We know you're a great singer. We know you're smart. Why are you forcing us to make sincere, though not voluntary, affirmations?


Do we really think so little of ourselves, or focus so much on our negatives, that the automatic (but not necessarily heartfelt) contradictions of those around us are necessary? And are these non-spontaneous affirmations even affirming, really? I can't tell you why I do it. It's a combination of reasons, I'm sure, not least of which is that it's normal and accepted practice. Most of us do this as a matter of course in our daily lives.


But I'm getting away from the core of what Paul is talking about. In the preceding verses, he tells us that he's worried that if he gets too elated because of the revelations he's experienced, God might get after him or humiliate him. Isn't that a lot like what we are taught growing up? Don't brag. Don't lord your good fortune over others, especially others who are less fortunate than you. We look down on people who flaunt their wealth, especially those so wealthy that they're simply out of touch with the "real world" (think Paris Hilton, the Kardashians, all kinds of naughty movie stars and musicians). God has revealed some divine secrets that Paul can't really share with us, not directly, and Paul is struggling with the adversity that God sent him for the very purpose of keeping his, Paul's, perspective.


All of us experience this same kind of struggle, whether it's exterior events (difficult life events, people who don't like us) that are the "thorn in the flesh" or our own personal failings (temptations, sins). We tend to berate ourselves for our failings, or ask "why me?" about the adversity we experience during our lives, but Paul reframes these weaknesses as a way to grace, strength, and the power of Jesus.


It kind of turns our perspective on its head, to think about how enduring and embracing adversity and our own human failings (just as the human-yet-divine Jesus did) helps us become stronger, so that the power of Christ dwells within us.