We all have things we brag on.

Those of us that are parents really enjoy bragging on their kids. At least I do!

My friends accuse me of bragging too much on the great things that Asbury is doing. By the way, have I told you that Asbury is awesome! 🙂

We have lots of things, including ourselves, that we’d like to brag on in life.

Listen to what Paul talks about bragging on in one of today’s readings:

Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul finds an area of weakness in his life; his thorn in the flesh. We don’t know what this thorn was, other than it caused Paul great problems and great concern. And he wanted it gone.

He didn’t want to deal with.  He was tired of it. So, he asked God three times to take it away. To take away this trouble. To take away this problem. To take away this weakness.

And God said each time – no.  My strength is made perfect in your weakness.

So, Paul bragged on his weakness.  On this thorn.  Because through it, God was glorified.

Through our weakness, through our frailty, through the things that cause us hurt or worry or pain, God’s strength is made known.

In the times when we can’t carry ourselves, when we can’t walk, when we are troubled, when we are weak, when are unable to go, God carries.

Paul brags on the places where he weak, because in that area, people can see the power of God.

Will we do the same? Will we allow our places of weakness to be places where God’s strength is made known? Will we let God’s strength carry us. Will we brag on our weakness and God’sstrength?

May God’s strength be made known in all our lives.