The Weakness in Our Weaknesses - Encouragement for Today - October 13, 2025
The Weakness in Our Weaknesses
RUTH SCHLEPPI-VERBOOM
Lee en español
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” 2 Corinthians 12:9a (NIV)
Oftentimes when my friend Joni Eareckson Tada and I talk, her wisdom goes over my head. I like to think that I’m smart and spiritual, but at times, the things she says are on a different level.
It’s no secret that suffering and struggles are Joni’s expertise. She was paralyzed at 17 and has dealt with pneumonias, cancer, chronic pain, and many other difficult things. But through all this, she has grown a steadfast trust in God. I’ve had the privilege of witnessing it when I've helped Joni on Sunday nights.
On one of those nights, she said, “You know, Ruth, Jesus reveals the weakness in our weaknesses.” I was holding her electric toothbrush and thought I hadn’t heard her correctly with all the buzzing and splattering.
Seeing my bewildered look, she repeated, “Yes, He reveals the weakness in our weaknesses.”
While I handed her a cup of water to rinse, questions swirled through my mind. What does that even mean?
When I drove home that night, I said her words out loud: “Weakness in our weaknesses.” I was determined to find out what it meant before I asked Joni again.
Could it be the number of weaknesses? A lifelong accumulation of disasters? It seems we overcome one and right away face the next one. Was Joni thinking of her physical limitations?
Or is our weakness our faulty personality? Our sin? I can be so impatient, angry, selfish, and proud. And believe me, I have many more weaknesses. Is that what she meant?
Or did Joni mean that when we are aware of our weaknesses, we realize how much we need Jesus, both spiritually and physically?
I wasn’t sure. But sometime later, I read the following in my Bible:
“But [God] said to [Paul], ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’” (2 Corinthians 12:9a).
It was as if God was speaking to me, answering my question from months ago. Tenderly, as He does, He showed me that there is power, and there is weakness. His power versus my weakness. The rest of the verse continues:
“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9b, NIV).
When I look at my weakness, I cannot boast because I feel overwhelmed. But when I look at Jesus and His power, my weaknesses become utterly weak. “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, NIV).
What’s your weakness at this moment? What’s your pain? What overwhelms you? Bring it all to Jesus. Don’t linger in the overwhelm; instead, let Christ’s power rest on you. He will show you the weakness in your weaknesses.
Dear God, just like Paul, I want to boast in my weaknesses. Teach me to trust You despite any circumstance. Please reveal the weakness in my weaknesses. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
OUR FAVORITE THINGS
In Sunday Evenings with Joni: Conversations about Life’s Chaos and Amazing Grace, Ruth Schleppi-Verboom writes about her evenings with Joni Eareckson Tada. This book is a collection of stories of friendship; heartfelt questions; and insights into God’s grace, especially in life’s difficulties.
ENGAGE
Ruth loves to write about God’s beauty and grace in the chaos of life. You can find her stories and recipes on her blog Ruthfully or on Instagram.
To learn more about Joni Eareckson Tada, visit the website of Joni and Friends.
FOR DEEPER STUDY
2 Corinthians 12:9-10, “but He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.’ Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me. So I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength]” (AMP).
Compare 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 in the AMP translation (above) with the NIV translation (quoted in the devotion). On a piece of paper, make two columns. In one column, write down all words related to weaknesses in these scriptures, and in the other, write all words related to power. What do you notice?
Boasting in our weaknesses is difficult to do; that’s why we need practice! What weakness will you boast about today? Share in the comments.
© 2025 by Ruth Schleppi-Verboom. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
