Use Me

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 

 2 Corinthians 12:9

I have two kids, who have two amazingly different personalities. Some of the first words my daughter, the oldest, uttered were, “Me do it.” My son, on the other hand, probably would still allow me to do everything for him without my encouraging him otherwise.

We are all independent in some ways, and utterly dependent in others. And God teaches us through both.

If you asked me several years ago, I would have told you an entirely different ministry in which I would have been involved. I knew “my” strengths, and I was going to go this direction to bless God. I actually got very annoyed when things didn’t work out like I thought they would.

Then God presented me with a different ministry opportunity. I immediately thought, I can’t do that!  Instead of being confident in my skills, I had no idea how this would work out. Now God had me right where He wanted me.  

In 2 Corinthians, Paul mentions that he will not boast about “self,” but he would boast about his weaknesses, because he knows that the good that comes, comes from the power of Christ, not self.

Has God ever given you a tiny spark that could lead to a passion? Or a nudge toward an area of service? I can’t do that!  I find it difficult sometimes to distinguish between a selfish desire and a God-given passion. Through prayer and spending time in God’s Word, the truth will be revealed.

God can use circumstances to confirm His Word as well. I was listening to a Bible teacher the other day, and she encouraged me to step out in faith and try the thing God had put in my heart.Hummm . . .

So I’ll say, “Me do it!” Not in my own strength, but His. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Help us to step out in faith, in Your strength, when we are weak. For then we are strong. Use me.

Julie Smith