STRENGTH made perfect in WEAKNESS

2Corinthians 12: 9: And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

I remember how that in the book of Acts how Saul of Tarsus, now Paul had an encounter with Jesus while he was on a trip to Damascus to persecute the children of God. It was this same young man who approved of the killing of Stephen; a man who was mightily used by God. Saul was a man who raised havoc in Jerusalem. Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. He was so ruthless and nefarious that the Christian feared him greatly. “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” was the voice he heard while he was still on the ground hopeless, having lost his sight as a result of the light from heaven that flashed around him. Despite Saul’s treacherous, ruthless, and nefarious deeds, God wasn’t so concerned about his past; he was interested in his future; he was interested in making him his mouth piece. A man who once fought against the name of Jesus was now the one fighting for that same name. With so great a passion, he preached everywhere he went.  

Isn’t it amazing that despite the atrocities committed by this young man, God still sent a man named Ananias to go pray for him to regain his sight? (Act 9:15 The Lord said to Ananias, "Go! I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me.). God was interested in using this man. Paul wrote from the prison cells, he healed the sick, and even raised the dead. God changed his name from Saul to Paul. This was a murderer whom God picked and transformed his life.

How about Peter? A man who Jesus asked on one occasion: “who do you say that I am?" Peter answered him, "You are the Christ, the son of the living God” Mark 8:29. Peter was among the closest disciples to Jesus. He was among the few privileged disciples that Jesus revealed deep things to. He climbed the mountain with Jesus and saw things other disciples didn’t see. His love for Jesus was so strong that on one occasion he assured Jesus of his loyalty even in tough times. Eventually the test of time came, and peter denied the one whom he had pledged his loyalty to. He denied Jesus. I can imagine how bad he felt when he realized that he had denied his master. But God full of so great a love and mercy didn’t use Peter’s past against him. Instead, he used Peter to win thousands of souls. On one occasion, the bible recorded that they brought the sick and laid them by the street so that at least the shadow of Peter may come on them and heal them all. How amazing it is to know that God can take the broken pieces of your life and make something out of it.

Moses was a man who murdered an Egyptian for trying to molest his fellow Israelite. Realizing that the crime he committed was no longer a secret; he fled to Midian, where he settled as a foreigner. Forty years had passed when God told him to go back to Egypt; a place he ran way from. His assignment there was to go and deliver the children of Israelite. It’s just like God telling an arm robber to go back to the house he once robbed to preach. How amazing! This is the same Moses who murdered an Egyptian that God is sending back to Egypt. Moses had his weak point; he stammered whenever he speaks and God told him to go tell Pharaoh these words: “thus sayeth the Lord let my people go.”He was totally inadequate for the task before him, but one good thing about God is that his strength is made perfect even in our weakness.

Think about Rahab, the prostitute. Her story is so emotional. It demonstrates the depth of God’s loves for the “imperfect” ones.  She had slept with several men and maybe women, and perhaps carried out several abortions. Her house was like a market place; men queued just to have a taste of her. Maybe, many marriages were broken because of her. Wives could no longer satisfy their husbands on bed because rehab was so skilful in her profession that men couldn’t help but come back for more. Despite how bad she was, God was still interested in her. Her emotional tank was empty yes! But God was interested in filling it up with his love. God used her to hide the spies who came from Joshua’s camp and because of that, her life and that of her family was spared. She is today one of the great patriarch of faith. 

We live in a world where a lot of young folks have buried dreams and potentials that are still alive because they feel they aren’t good enough to carry out God’s purpose for their life. They smile on the outside, but deep down on the inside of them there is a civil war going on and that has caused them to feel insecure. They no longer feel good about themselves and therefore live their lives according to the standard people set for them. I imagine a young girl who goes in front of a mirror and feel bad about her image. She says to herself: “I’m not good enough; I wish I was beyonce or maybe Oprah Winfey.”  God didn’t design you to have the attributes of some other person; He designed you in his image.  You are a reflection of his glory. Start feeling good about YOU and know that no one else can do what you were created to do.

God can take the broken pieces of your live, amend it, and give it a meaning. He wants to turn your great mess into greatness. You may be there feeling inadequate or inferior, but I want you to know that God isn’t so much interested in your past or shortcomings; he is interested in your future and what he can make out of your life. He wants to make beauty out of your ashes. He wants to make you the chief cornerstone.  He wants to make you the envy of your world. Just like Saul, Moses, Peter, and Rehab yielded themselves to be used by God, you’ve got to yield yourself and allow him make your life a message. Feel good about “you,” Stop trying to be someone else. You were designed to be just YOU. Remember. He wants to turn your life into a message. All you need do is to just open up and say “lord I’m willing.”