Men of CFTD #33,
I’ve spent a bit of time over the last few weeks thinking about the theme and weekend for CFTD #33. Holy Spirit’s been at work like always and I wanted to share some thoughts.
In looking at the weekend verse 2 Corinthians 12:9, I saw some things in the previous verses that stirred some things in my heart and mind. I had a Bible professor in college that said about studying scripture “let the context be your guide”.
Chapter 12 starts off with Paul telling us of someone who had a vision. While he doesn’t go into what this was, he does something a bit odd for us. He goes on to tell us that he will boast about what the vision was, but he will do it from a position of weakness so that his own pride and boastful spirit doesn’t get in the way. Remember, Paul was a man of stature and means when he came to Christ, and he certainly had plenty to boast about.
Then he shares something personal about his own life experience. He was afflicted with some sort of malady, something that was so hard to deal with that he asked God to take it away three times. Some biblical scholars believe this was some form of physical disability, either partial blindness or something that affected his mobility. God doesn’t take away this condition, and that’s when we come to our theme verse. Even in the midst of his own brokenness, his own suffering, Paul encourages us all with the truth that God’s grace is sufficient. Period. It’s sufficient in our rejoicing. It’s sufficient in our pain. It’s sufficient in our brokenness and His grace is what can bring us back on the path to making us whole.
In thinking about the fact that Paul had something that in a sense made him feel broken, Holy Spirit prompted me to the conclusion that all of our brokenness has a catalyst, something that brought us to that point. It could be past trauma, past abuses, past addictions, etc., that lead us to being broken and in need of restoration by the master potter.
For me, my catalyst is living life with a disability and that’s what Holy Spirit wanted to show me in the past few weeks. It’s something I’ve always known, and I was trying to avoid the topic of disability on the weekend, not because I’m unwilling to talk about it, but because I felt I wanted to focus on the common brokenness we all face.
Living life with a disability and especially certain aspects of it have caused me more anger, depression, doubting my self-worth and how others potentially see me, shame, and a host of other things.
Here’s the point I’m trying to drive home. Unless we deal with the root causes of our brokenness, we can’t be truly made whole. I have to trust that my Heavenly Father created me exactly how he intended me so that I could reach others for the kingdom. Do I have days where I think life would be easier if I didn’t have to deal with any of this? Yeah. I do. “But He said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
I’ll leave you with a clip from The Chosen. It’s an interaction between Jesus and Little James. Many people have asked me in my lifetime if I wanted to be healed and to be honest, I’ve asked this a few times myself. I now know and fully believe that I am already healed, just not yet. Take a look at this clip and be encouraged by what Jesus says. His message is for you.
Andrew Vacca
CFTD #11
Table of Matthew