A Prayer about Weakness

Lord,

I confess, I don’t like being weak at all. 

You say that weakness is the Christian’s way, 

but I was born and raised in America, 

by strong people who taught me to work hard and be tough. 

Not only that, but I’m afraid much of what I’ve observed in church 

suggests that we should be strong as steel and stoic as statues. 

And yet, you say that the way to be strong is to be weak. 

You say you will make us into people 

who are “content with weaknesses, insults, 

hardships, persecutions, and calamities” (2 Corinthians 12:10). 

Help us, by your grace, to grasp the paradox. 

May we cling to our crucified Savior, 

who though he was God, 

took on the weakness of human flesh. 

Wrap us in the strong embrace of our risen and ascended Savior, 

who for the joy of making us your children endured the shame of the cross.

Send us into the world, 

weak and frail as we are, 

to invite others to join us 

in the only weakness that could ever strengthen us.

In Jesus’ strong name. Amen.

Read 2 Corinthians 12:1-10.