In My Weakness He Is Strong 2 Corinthians 12:9
By Pastor Joel – Open Heaven Christian Church – Fisher, Arkansas
“My strength is made perfect in weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness… for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
— 2 Corinthians 12:9–10 (KJV)
There comes a point in the Christian life when we discover that our greatest victories are not won through our own abilities, wisdom, determination, or strength. They are won when we come to the end of ourselves and discover the limitless strength and power of Christ working within us.
This truth often seems contrary to human reasoning. The world teaches us to become stronger, more independent, more self-sufficient, and more confident in ourselves. Yet the Kingdom of God teaches something radically different: true spiritual strength is found in complete dependence upon God.
The Apostle Paul learned this lesson through suffering. After receiving extraordinary revelations from the Lord, God allowed him to experience a painful trial that continually reminded him of his need for God’s divine grace. Paul endured a season of trials and testing in which a messenger of Satan “buffeted” him. When he sought the Lord three times to remove this trial, the Lord did not take it away. Instead, He answered, “My grace is sufficient for thee.”
The Lord knew that Paul was able to endure this season of trial and testing. God allowed it so that Paul would become less dependent upon himself and more dependent upon the Lord for strength. Through this experience, Paul learned that God’s grace was all he needed to sustain him.
What Paul experienced was not the miracle of immediate deliverance, but something even greater—a personal revelation from God that taught him His grace was greater than the trial he was facing. Paul discovered that the grace of God was far more powerful than the affliction he was enduring.
Many believers today find themselves in the very same situation. They earnestly pray and ask God to remove the trials they are facing. Yet many times God does not immediately remove those trials. Instead, He allows them to endure them so that their faith will rest upon Him alone. Through these seasons of testing, believers learn to rely completely upon God’s strength rather than their own. God has a perfect plan for each of His children, and He is working everything together for their good. Often, the outcome God is producing is far greater than the trial they must endure. Through these difficult seasons, their faith deepens, their trust in the Lord grows stronger, and they discover that His strength is made perfect in their weakness.
This does not mean that God tempts His children to sin. Scripture clearly teaches that God never tempts anyone with evil. Rather, God may permit trials and testing in our lives, using them to strengthen our faith, produce spiritual maturity, and teach us to depend completely upon Him while He accomplishes His perfect will in us.
Romans 8:28 (KJV)
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
James 1:13–17 (KJV)
“Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”
My grace is sufficient for thee is greater then any test and trial one may face in life. Oftentimes the closer you draw to the Lord, the greater the trials and test you may face because in the testing is where we discover where our faith is, and when we endure, God will make a way of escape from every trial and test we all may face in life.
1 Corinthians 10:13
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.“
In bearing it for a season we become strong in the Lord and in the power of His might as we learn to trust the Lord and rely on His strength!
Ephesians 6:10
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.“
The Danger of Spiritual Pride
Paul writes:
“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.”
— 2 Corinthians 12:7
Notice that Paul had been entrusted with “the abundance of the revelations.” God had revealed heavenly truths to him that very few people had ever experienced. Yet with greater revelation came greater responsibility.
The danger was not the revelations themselves but the temptation toward any pride arising in him.
The phrase “lest I should be exalted above measure” appears twice in this verse, emphasizing God’s concern that Paul would remain humble.
God’s desire has never been merely to give His children knowledge about Him. His desire is to conform them into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29). Spiritual knowledge without humility becomes dangerous.
Throughout Scripture we see that God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6; and 1 Peter 5:5).
God May Allow Testing After Greater Revelation
Paul explains that there was given to him “a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me.”
The text identifies the immediate source as “the messenger of Satan,” yet it also makes clear that this was permitted within God’s sovereign purpose to prevent Paul from becoming exalted with pride.
This pattern appears throughout Scripture.
After seasons of blessing, revelation, or spiritual growth, God’s people are often tested. Abraham was tested after receiving God’s promises. Job was tested though he was righteous. Peter was sifted by Satan, yet Jesus prayed that his faith would not fail (Luke 22:31–32). Jesus Himself was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1).
These examples do not mean that every hardship follows increased revelation, nor that every trial is caused by Satan. But Scripture repeatedly shows that God can permit testing for holy purposes, including refining faith, producing endurance, cultivating humility, and drawing His people into deeper dependence upon Him.
When God reveals more of Himself, He often also teaches us how completely we need Him. This creates in us a heart that is 100% dependent upon the Lord for strength to endure and carry on with a humble heart trusting in His power that is made “perfect” in our weakness.
Paul’s Prayer
Paul writes:
“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.”
— 2 Corinthians 12:8
Paul did exactly what every believer should do.
He prayed.
He sought deliverance.
He asked God to remove the suffering.
There is nothing wrong with asking God to remove our burdens. Our Father delights in hearing the cries of His children.
Yet sometimes God’s answer is not immediate deliverance.
Sometimes His answer is greater grace.
“My Grace Is Sufficient”
The Lord answered Paul:
“My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
— 2 Corinthians 12:9
God did not promise Paul an easier road.
He promised sufficient grace.
Grace is God’s unearned favor, but it is also His divine enablement—the power He gives believers to endure, obey, persevere, and remain faithful.
Grace does not merely forgive us.
Grace sustains us.
The Meaning of “Strength”
The Greek word translated “strength” is δύναμις (dýnamis).
It means:
Power
Mighty ability
Divine power
Miraculous strength
The inherent power that belongs to God
This is the same word often translated “power” throughout the New Testament.
Jesus declared,
“Ye shall receive power…” (Acts 1:8)
That word is also dýnamis.
Paul is not speaking about human determination.
He is speaking about God’s supernatural power operating within human weakness.
The Meaning of “Weakness”
The Greek word translated “weakness” is ἀσθένεια (astheneia).
It literally means:
Weakness
Frailty
Lack of strength
Inability
Human limitation
Sickness or infirmity
Complete dependence because one lacks sufficient strength
It describes someone who recognizes they cannot accomplish what is needed through their own ability.
This is precisely where God delights to work.
Our weakness becomes the stage upon which God’s power is displayed.
“Made Perfect”
Jesus said,
“My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
The phrase “made perfect” comes from the Greek word τελέω (teleó), meaning:
To bring to completion
To accomplish fully
To carry through to its intended goal
To reach maturity
God’s power is not made stronger—His power is already perfect.
Rather, His power reaches its intended purpose and is fully displayed when human self-reliance is removed.
As long as we depend upon ourselves, we limit what God desires to accomplish through us.
When we surrender completely, His strength becomes evident.
Brokenness Produces Dependence
The Christian life is not about becoming stronger in ourselves.
It is about becoming increasingly dependent upon Christ.
God often uses trials to expose areas where we still trust our own wisdom, talents, plans, or abilities.
Brokenness is not God’s rejection.
Brokenness is often God’s invitation.
He lovingly removes our confidence in ourselves so that our confidence may rest entirely in Him.
Like a branch cannot bear fruit apart from the vine (John 15:5), we can accomplish nothing of eternal value apart from Christ.
The deeper our dependence becomes, the more fully His life flows through us.
The Power of Christ Resting Upon Us
Paul’s response is astonishing.
“Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
The phrase “rest upon me” carries the idea of pitching a tent or dwelling over someone.
Paul recognized that when he stopped resisting his weakness and instead surrendered it to Christ, God’s power rested upon him in a unique way.
His weakness became the dwelling place of divine strength.
When I Am Weak, Then Am I Strong
Paul concludes:
“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
— 2 Corinthians 12:10
Paul was not celebrating pain for its own sake.
He rejoiced because he knew what suffering produced.
Every trial drove him closer to Christ.
Every weakness became another opportunity to experience God’s grace.
Every hardship reminded him that Christ was enough.
The weaker Paul became in himself, the stronger Christ became through him.
This is one of the greatest paradoxes of the Christian faith.
The world says, “Be strong.”
Jesus says, “Abide in Me.”
The world says, “Trust yourself.”
God says, “Trust Me.”
The world glorifies self-sufficiency.
The Gospel glorifies complete dependence upon Christ.
A Life Hidden in Christ
Perhaps today you are carrying a burden that seems too heavy.
Maybe you have prayed repeatedly for God to remove it.
Perhaps the answer has not come as you expected.
Do not mistake God’s delay for God’s absence.
His grace is still sufficient.
His power has not diminished.
He may be accomplishing something far greater than simply removing your trial. He may be teaching you to know Him more deeply, to walk more humbly, and to depend more completely upon His strength.
The greatest servants of God are not those who appear the strongest.
They are those who know they are weakest without Christ.
And because they know it, they continually draw near to Him.
When we empty ourselves of self-confidence, Christ fills us with His power.
When we surrender our weakness, His strength is perfected in us.
When we become nothing without Him, He becomes everything within us.
May we, like Paul, gladly boast not in our accomplishments but in our weaknesses, so that the mighty power of Christ may rest upon our lives.
For when we are weak, then we are truly strong—not because of who we are, but because Christ lives and works through us.
The grace of God is greater than any trials or times of testing. His grace is greater than anything that even the devil tries to scare you with.
