More Bees?

After my adventure with the bee last week, I thought I was done. I had done my good deed for nature; I set the bee free instead of crushing it. And then I went home. When I walked in my door, buzzing around my kitchen was (what I thought was) the biggest bee I had ever seen. This monster was probably 2 inches long and looked angry. I weighed my options, the most appealing being to just burn the house down and find a way to start over. Instead, I acted like a good citizen of the earth, opened every door, and ushered it back into the wild. I later learned that this was a cicada killer wasp, and I should have killed it because wasps have no redeeming qualities. But we’re not here to talk about bugs, or how much they scare me.

After my first harrowing experience of the day, I thought I was done. I didn’t think I would need to deal with anything like that for some time, and then almost immediately there I was. It might not always be bugs. You might have that problem that rears its ugly head every once in a while. It may feel like a weakness to have a problem that you just can’t solve, but it is a reminder that we are not called to face this world on our own strength alone.

Paul, one of the heroes of the faith had to deal with chronic problems. And when he did, he used them as a source of strength.

2 Corinthians 12: 5b-10 on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— 6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than they see in me or hear from me. 7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 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. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Do you allow God to shine through your weakness? We were never called to be perfect, only to rely on the one who is.