Have A Whinge

It was no surprise that she struggled to maintain friendships

2 Corinthians 12:1-21

Reference: v.10 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. (TNIV Bible)

Explore: I used to go to school with someone who was a real whinger. She would whine about this, complain about that.

She could turn any conversation into a negative. It was bad enough attending school with her, but we were also in the same boarding school house, so I was around her ALL the time.

It was no surprise that she struggled to maintain friendships, she often felt lonely and the girls would talk about her behind her back. Her negative attitude added to her sour take on life and fuelled her whinging.

Although I tried to be a good Christian friend, I also found it incredibly challenging to be around someone who always saw the negative side of things.

Application: When Paul spoke about boasting in his weaknesses, he was not giving every negative person permission to whinge and whine. These were serious difficulties he was talking about.

His perspective on his challenges was an incredibly positive one. He knew that through his weaknesses, Jesus could show His mighty power to Paul.

Paul saw his challenges as an opportunity to see Christ more clearly.

I wish I could be more like Paul. We all experience tough things in life and, to be honest, I tend to turn more into my old school friend than into the great apostle!

When we are presented with challenges it truly is an opportunity for us to rely on our faith and bring to life Jesus’ strength in our weakness.

Prayer: Lord, whinging comes so easily to me. Help me to rely on You when challenges come my way. That way I am able to rejoice when I feel protected by Your mighty hand. Amen.

How do you go about turning a weakness into a strength?

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