“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 ESV
When Charlie and I were first married, we had close friends who were newlyweds too. In fact, Charlie officiated at their wedding. They both had lucrative careers, making their resources far different than ours. We were young pastors in a small church with the accompanying small income. Our friends were truly kind, never boasting, or flashy, and we had great times together without financial disparity ever surfacing. Honestly, though, sometimes Charlie and I would laugh about how great it would be to have no financial worries, to just buy something if you needed it instead of trying to figure out a way to make do without. Our struggle mostly centered around undependable vehicles. But we were okay. Truly. We knew we were where God called us, and He would always take care of us. We were content financially where we were.
A few years into our friendship, the wife was discovered to have aggressive cancer. We were in Kentucky at a conference when her husband called, saying an amputation of her entire leg through her hip would be happening immediately. However, she didn’t want them to do anything until we got home to talk and pray together. Of course, we hurriedly packed and headed back. We drove for miles without saying a word. Finally, Charlie said aloud what I was thinking. “Wow, babe. I’d rather never make another dollar more than we do now than to have their situation. I’ll take our problems and little bit of money any time.” I agreed. There are many things worse than not having enough money or “stuff.”
Over the next few years we continued as close friends, fighting battles unique to each of our lives. They had money and musical ministry careers that provided plenty of applause and support for their needs. Charie and I found God coming through for us with just what we needed in just the time we needed it. They experienced more of the “weaknesses and calamities” Paul mentioned that come with illness. We experienced more of the “insults, hardships, and persecutions” that come with working with broken people and having an Enemy. But all four of us found this to be true: God’s grace IS sufficient. His power is made perfect in weakness. Contentment is possible.
Tracy’s testimony of contentment and trust defined her until she met Jesus face to face seven years after her diagnosis. We all discovered that contentment involves far more than money. Because of Christ’s power resting in us, we can be content, no matter what.
- Is there anything I am allowing to disrupt my satisfaction with how Christ is handling my life? I can choose trust in every circumstance. When I am weakest, He is strongest.