The Strength of Weakness
Watch or listen to
the full sermon here.
Preached by Pastor Mike Woodard
Follow The Valley Church
Life rarely unfolds the way we expect. We set our hopes high, make our plans, and dream of smooth sailing—only to find ourselves wrecked on the shore of disappointment. The gap between what we expected and what actually happened is often filled with pain, grief, and questions. We’ve all lived in that space of unmet expectations. But here’s the good news: God doesn’t ignore our brokenness—He steps into it.
The Apostle Paul knew this all too well. In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul speaks about a “thorn in the flesh”—an ongoing pain or weakness he begged God to remove. His expectation was healing, but the reality was ongoing struggle. Yet Jesus’ response wasn’t to take away the thorn, but to give Paul something far greater: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
That word perfect (Greek: teleó) paints a powerful picture. It’s like an old telescope that unfolds section by section until it reaches full length and clarity. In the same way, God’s power unfolds to its fullest capacity not in our strength, but in our weakness. Our pain becomes the very lens through which His power is magnified.
Think about that: our struggles, disappointments, and soul cracks aren’t obstacles—they’re opportunities. Just like light shining through the cracks of an old door, the light of Christ shines most clearly through the broken places in our lives. When we stop pretending we’re strong and start admitting where we’re weak, that’s when His power takes up residence in us.
Paul goes as far as to boast in his weakness, because he realized it was the dwelling place for Christ’s strength. That flips our perspective entirely. Instead of rushing through pain like a drive-thru, God invites us to pull up a chair and sit with Him in it. He meets us in the dust, uses our brokenness as a foundation, and displays His glory through it all.
The cross is the ultimate example. Jesus’ greatest display of power came through His weakness—through suffering, pain, and death. When He declared “It is finished” (Tetelestai), the power of God’s salvation was fully realized. The strength of God was revealed through the weakness of the cross.
So what’s your thorn in the flesh? Where do you feel cracked, weak, or worn down? Don’t see it as a disqualification. See it as a qualification for the power of Christ to dwell in you. Because where you are weakest is exactly where God is ready to show His strength.