2 Corinthians 12:7-10 - I Am Strong

Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me--to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 NIV

At no time are we more exposed for what we truly are than when we are at our weakest points. It is so easy to fire back at someone when they are physically or verbally attacking you. We can easily be robbed of the joy we have in Christ when things don't go our way. As the Revolutionary War figure Thomas Paine once said, "these are the times that try men's souls." Though sometimes critical of Christianity, Paine was referring to the oppression of the British and that how we planned to deal with it was a measure of our true beliefs and strength. How we choose to deal with adversity in our lives is on display for others to see. There is no greater display of our witness than when we are going through tough times and non-believers see that NOTHING can rob you of the joy you have in Christ. It's when we are at our weakest points that Christ can do the most work.