Limping Towards Grace

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

In Genesis 32, Jacob wrestled through the night with a mysterious man, who would later be revealed as God Himself. At daybreak, the Lord touched Jacob’s hip, leaving him with a permanent limp. I have long wondered why this happened, for it seemed like such a curious thing. But then, if we think about Jacob’s story, it’s one of a man who spent a lot of his time running from something. He ran from Esau; he ran from Laban. Jacob was a man running from conflict, but after his encounter with the Lord, running was no longer an option.

Did God damage Jacob’s hip to hinder his need to run? Had Jacob been running away from God in some way, or had he been running towards Him the whole time? Whatever he had been doing, whether consciously or unconsciously, Jacob’s walk changed that day – physically and spiritually.

God has a way of highlighting our self-sufficiency and leading us to His all-sufficient grace. He led Jacob to experience it and He led the apostle Paul to experience it also. Our own strength can often be our greatest hindrance because our focus is turned inward. Whereas, acknowledging our weaknesses is the gateway that leads us to the power of God.

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Throughout life, in general, we cling to our independence for as long as possible because we don’t want to be dependant on others. Other people can let us down – they can be undependable. But God is not ‘other people’. God is the one who always shows up, the one who does what He says He will. What He wants from us is our trust, to rely on Him completely.

Is there something that you are trying to do on your own, or are you experiencing a weakness in your life, either physically, mentally or spiritually? Let me encourage you to walk, or limp, into the strength and power of God, trusting that His grace is sufficient.