Weakness and Strength

For my strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor.12, 9)

When we think we are strong, then this is when we are the weakest. But when we realize how weak and powerless we are, unable to fight, unable for work, then we are strong in the strength that “is made perfect in weakness”. We are truly strong  when we turn to God  begging for help, of which He never refuses. Unfortunately too often we consider ourselves too weak and unable to do the work expected from us, and not feeling useful for a good labor we remain idle.

Wouldn’t it be better to give our labor to the hands of God, Who will fill in all the blanks and transform our weak abilities by filling them with His Power? He is ready to perform this miracle on a daily basis, because “His strength is made perfect in weakness”. He replaces the human inability with His eternal Wisdom. Apostle Paul was deeply filled with this knowledge when he said that he took pleasure in his weaknesses, knowing that the Power of God was manifested in him therefore he completely realized that when he was weak, then he was strong (2 Cor.12, 10)

(Translated by Tatiana Rozzell from “Every Day is a Gift from God. Diaries of an Orthodox Priest" (1905), author unknown)