The Culture of Hope Founded on Faith
God’s Strength Made Perfect in My Weakness
“Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication. Attend unto me, and hear me: I mourn in my complaint, and make a noise because of the voice of the enemy, because of the oppression of the wicked. For they cast iniquity upon me, and in wrath they hate me.” Psalm 55:1-3
Recently my prayer has been similar to this one. Only it is not human voices that I find so disturbing to my peace, but the continuous video loop that rehashes every moment of embarrassment, regret and shame in my life. I had victory over this many years ago, but now find that the enemy is, once again, using this to undermine my peace and joy in the Lord. Like the psalmist, David, I pray, “Oh that I had wings like a dove! For then would I fly away, and be at rest” (vs. 6) and “As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me” (vs. 16).
In 2 Corinthians 12, the apostle Paul prayed in a similar manner regarding a long-term and obnoxious ailment. God’s answer to him resounds in my heart two millennia later: “My grace is sufficient for thee, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (vs. 9a). Paul’s response joyously declares, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Cor. 12:9-10). In Romans 5, Paul confirmed his attitude toward suffering, writing “…we glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation works patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope; and hope makes not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Rom. 5:3b-5).
Seeking God’s will, God’s glory, God’s kingdom is what each Christian is called to do, no matter what is going on in each of our lives. Illness, loss, even spiritual attack, all point us back to God’s presence and promises. Jesus, Himself exhorted this focus in His sample prayer for the disciples when he included “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven” (Matt 6:10).
While there are many promises in Scripture, three stand out in terms of victory over spiritual attacks such as I have been experiencing:
Isaiah 26:3-4 – “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee because he trusts in Thee. Trust ye in the Lord forever, for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength.”
Psalm 55:18a – “He has delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me…”
Psalm 55:22 – “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee. He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.”
