In 2 Corinthians, Paul said, “in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’” (12:7-9a).
One thing I’ve often taken pride in is my ability to administrate tasks. I was a math major in college. Consequently, I tend to like to think about things in boxes. That’s also why I take on scheduling for [nlcf] volunteers.
But this semester, I can’t tell you the number of things that I have done like normal that simply haven’t worked. I constantly miscommunicate, drop the ball, and mess up whatever I’m working on. (Anyone ever notice how bad the 130 Jackson bar looked over the last few months? Yeah, that was my fault).
The thing I feel like God is teaching me in all of this is that I can’t rely on myself or my abilities. Paul said it this way: 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 weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:9b-10).
I’m grateful that God has proven faithful time and again this semester. It’s been such a wonderful opportunity to learn greater dependency on my Father. I hope you all get a chance to learn what I am!
~ Brandon Thompson