Finding Strength in God

"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.  That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong."  - 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

The daily difficulties that we go through are enough to bring any one of us to our knees.  There are times when we all feel that this world is just too much, that life is more than we can bear.  It is at times like these that we need something to lean on.  Sure, we all have people that we trust with our lives but people will let you down.  Think of the most important people in your life.  At one point or another, they have let you down.  Maybe not purposely but it is just human nature that we let each other down.  This is where Jesus comes in.  Jesus is the only one who will never let you down.  He will always be there for you, whether you're at the highest of highs or the lowest of lows.  In this scripture, Paul, Christianity's first missionary, has been given what he calls, "a thorn in the flesh," something that Paul never defines.  Paul asks God three times to take it away and the scripture above is God's response.  God wants us to know a couple of things.  First, God does not cause suffering.  Suffering is a result of living in a fallen world that is consumed with sin.  Secondly, God does allow people to suffer.  God allows trials and tribulations in a person's life because for some people, the only time they turn to Him is when everything else is letting them down.  God wants to know you personally.  The God of the bible is not a distant being who wants nothing to do with His creation.  He wants a personal relationship with every single person.  That is the Christian faith.  Having a close relationship with the creator of the universe.  Once you have that relationship with Him, He will provide you strength when you feel like you have none.  When you're weak, you will be strong because of Him.