In Pure Flix’s new movie Christmas Angel, there are a number of people who are hurting and alone, yet they put on a face of strength so others won’t see their inner pain. Our world puts a premium value on strength – just look at our fascination with superheroes – and ignores or even despises the weak.

We size people up by evaluating a “chart of strengths and weaknesses.” We strive to accentuate our talents and abilities while either hiding or striving to overcome our shortfalls.

But in 2 Corinthians 12, Paul turns our formula upside down. He says he will gladly boast about his weaknesses – not just expose them, but actually flaunt them! Why? Because when we are weak, when we can’t do it in our own strength, that’s when we need God and we give Him the opportunity to work in His own way.

Olivia Mead is an 11-year-old with a big heart who thinks she knows the best way to help others in need. But when her big schemes backfire, she learns the hard way that we make our plans but the Lord determines our steps (Proverbs 16:9). Thankfully, He is also the God who takes our mistakes and failures and trades them for His glory (Isaiah 61:1-3).

Are you ashamed of your weaknesses?  Are you hiding inner pain? Ask God if He wants to speak into your life today and show you how he can turn your ashes into beauty, or your mourning into joy for the display of His splendor.

“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.”  2 Corinthians 12:9

Written by: Andrea Nasfell
Andrea is also the writer of Christmas Angel, Escape, Christmas With A Capital C, and What If...
Visit Andrea's blog here: http://ahundredhats.wordpress.com/