Good morning. We read from Paul, If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. I hope to show you this morning, as we look at Paul’s message to the Corinthians, that these might just be some of the most comforting words that you can find in the Bible.
I’m thankful for these words because I have had a horrible week. I think every time I get sick, I get a little down on myself. This isn’t meant to get everyone to say “poor Mike” or anything, just to give you a mindset I will assume most of us can all relate to. When we’re sick or injured, or just aren’t as sharp as we normally are, it’s easy to get down on yourself. But Paul boasts in his weakness.
Let me set the scene. Paul’s writing to the church in Corinth, and he’s frustrated. There are these “super-apostles” running around—smooth talkers who’ve got the Corinthians impressed with their polished resumes and flashy credentials. They’re questioning Paul’s authority, saying he’s not impressive enough, not strong enough, not apostle material. So Paul does something unexpected. He doesn’t puff out his chest and list his resume or victories in ministry, other than reminding them that he is, after all, their founding pastor.
Instead, he flips the script and “boasts” about the stuff most of us would hide: his weaknesses, his struggles, his near-death moments. Why? Because Paul knows something we need to hear today: our limitations don’t disqualify us from God’s work—they’re the very place where God’s power shows up.
Let’s re-read some of this together, starting at verse 19:
You gladly bear with fools, being wise yourselves!
20 For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. 21 To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that.
22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I.
Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they servants of Christ?
I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death.
And he keeps going—shipwrecks, beatings, hunger, sleepless nights, and a dramatic retreat in a basket over the city wall. Paul’s resume isn’t a highlight reel of great speeches and book deals. It’s a rap sheet of suffering. But here’s the kicker: he’s not complaining. He’s not asking for pity like I did from Steph all week.
He’s saying, “If I’m going to boast, I’ll boast about the things that show I’m weak—because that’s where God’s strength takes over.”
This brings us to the Paradox of Weakness. For the Christian, weakness isn’t the opposite of strength—it’s the canvas for it, a canvas where God can paint His strength on us. In our world, we’re obsessed with our personal strength. Scroll through social media, and it’s all about flexing—literally or figuratively. We want to look competent, put-together, unbreakable. But Paul’s saying, “No, that’s not how God works.” God doesn’t need our strength to do His thing. He steps into our weakness and says, “Watch this.”
Think about Paul’s life for a second. He’s not some superhero. He’s a guy who’s been beaten up, left for dead, and lowered out of a window like a fugitive. Yet through his ministry, the gospel spread like wildfire. Churches were planted.
Lives were changed. And not because Paul was invincible, or handsome, or a great speaker, but because God’s power was unstoppable. Paul’s weakness didn’t hinder God’s mission—it highlighted it.
So what about us? Let’s be honest: we’ve all got our own version of Paul’s list. Maybe it’s not shipwrecks or floggings, but it’s real. Some of us are carrying exhaustion—mental, physical, emotional. We’re juggling finances and medical issues, temptations and it feels like we’re one frayed thread from falling apart.
Some of us might be wrestling with doubt—maybe not sure if God’s even listening. Sometimes, we can feel inadequate—like we’re not enough for the job, the relationship, the calling God’s put in front of you. When I’m sick, I always get that anxiety at 2am when I get sleepless, the feeling of being underwater.
Here’s what Paul’s telling us: those aren’t disqualifiers. They’re opportunities. When you’re at the end of your rope, that’s where God ties a knot and says, “I’ve got this.” Paul is proof of that. Every beating, every sleepless night, every time he thought, “I can’t keep going,” God was there. Not to make Paul stronger in himself, but to show that God’s strength is enough.
Look at verse 30: “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” Why? Because in verse 31, he points to “the God and Father of the Lord Jesus, who is to be praised forever.” Paul’s not the hero of his story—God is. And that’s true for us too. When we’re weak, God gets the glory. When we can’t, He can. It’s not about us pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps—it’s about Him lifting us up by His grace.
This isn’t just Paul’s story—it’s the Bible’s story. You start with Abraham and Sarah, childless and beyond childbearing years, yet the parents of all believers.
You have Moses: an abandoned stutterer who led a nation.
David: the youngest of 8 sons and a shepherd boy who took down a giant and became king. Esther: an orphan who became queen and saved her people. Over and over, God picks the weak, the unlikely, the broken, and says, “Through you, I’ll show My strength.”
And of course, the ultimate example is Jesus—dying on a cross, the ultimate picture of weakness, to win the greatest victory of all.
What do we do with this? First, stop hiding your weakness. You don’t have to pretend you’ve got it all together—not with God, not with each other.
Bring it to God and say, “Lord, I can’t do this, but You can.”
Second, trust that He’s working through it. Your struggle isn’t wasted—it’s a stage for His strength.
And third , encourage each other. Paul didn’t write this to show his amazing history; he wrote it to lift up the Corinthians. We’re in this together—let’s point each other to the God who’s strong when we’re not.
Let me close with this promise from later in 2 Corinthians 12:9, where God tells Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” That’s not just for Paul—that’s for you. Today, whatever you’re carrying, lay it down. Let your weakness be the place where God’s strength shines through. Because when we’re weak, He’s strong.
