“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 12:9-10

I have always considered myself to be a strong person, and I believe most people who know me would agree. However, during my two-and-a-half-year cancer journey, I learned how extraordinarily weak I am but how supernaturally strong God is.

Have you ever had an MRI? You know – that test where you have to lie completely still inside a metal tube while it sounds like people with sledge hammers are beating that metal tube within an inch of its life? Have you ever had a biopsy? You know – that test where they stick a very long needle into a mass in your body and extract a sample to examine and determine if it is cancerous? Put the two together and you have an MRI-guided biopsy. If you thought either an MRI or a biopsy was no fun, when you put them together it is even less of a party. Mine lasted 2 ½ hours due to not only the delicacy of the procedure but also the drama of hitting a blood vessel and the doctors taking turns compressing me until their arms shook and they had to switch off in order to stop the bleeding. I was so amazingly calm through the whole thing. In fact, before the procedure began the nurse who took my blood pressure thought the machine was broken because my blood pressure was so good. I guess she expected it to be sky high. But I was already learning that when I am weak, He is strong.

My body was failing me. It had succumbed to cancer. But God was sustaining me through it all. His presence was so near me during the MRI-guided biopsy that I was able to have a precious time of praise and worship while lying completely still for almost 2 hours. I mentally recited Scripture, sang songs, and prayed. He strengthened me through His Word, His promises, His love for me. What should have been a traumatic experience was transformed into a worship service because of His strength in my weakness.

Give God your weakness and watch Him infuse you with His strength.

“Heavenly Father, thank you for being my strong tower, my hiding place, my very present help in time of trouble. Help me to never trust in my own strength which, at its best, is anemic. Keep my eyes firmly focused on You and Your kingdom. Amen.”