Weakness isn’t something we naturally celebrate—but Scripture flips that idea on its head. In 2 Corinthians 12:9–10, we’re reminded that God’s power is made perfect in weakness, meaning the very areas we try to hide can become the places where His strength is most clearly seen. What feels like a limitation may actually be the beginning of a powerful testimony.

Instead of striving to appear strong or self-sufficient, God invites us to depend on Him. Weakness exposes our need—and that’s exactly where grace steps in. Whether it’s a personal struggle, a diagnosis, or an ongoing battle, God can work through it in ways that not only transform us but also encourage others. When we stop resisting our weakness and start surrendering it, we create space for God’s power to move.

Highlights
Weakness is not a disqualifier—it’s an opportunity for God’s power
God’s strength is most visible in areas where we feel insufficient
Personal struggles can become meaningful testimonies
Dependence on God replaces the pressure to “figure it all out”
Paul’s “thorn” reminds us that not every struggle is removed—but it can be redeemed
Sharing our journey through weakness can encourage and impact others

Do you want to listen ad-free?

When you join Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors—resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts! 

Sign Up Today!

Full Transcript Below:

Your Weakness May Be Your Testimony

By Lauren Fletcher

Bible Reading:

“Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

I never thought positively about my weaknesses. They were always something I tried diligently to hide, especially as a teenager. As an adult, I’ve had times of embracing them, amongst grace-filled friends. I’ve also had times where I didn’t quite want to mention them (job interview, anyone?) 

When I was diagnosed with ADHD and severe OCD, it hit me in a way I didn’t expect. I was emotional and self-conscious. Severe?, I thought. Though these diagnoses were what my counselors and I suspected, when I had the official word, it took me some time to process. I thought about my life and wondered, what does this mean for my future? It all felt very heavy.

I talked with my friends for some support. They said things like, this is just a snapshot of what my symptoms were like at the time of testing, and that in the future, the severity might change. Many of them also said, “That’s not who you are,” and that who I am is who I am in Christ. I am trying to hold onto their words and perspective as I move forward.

In light of the diagnoses, what helped me was realizing that God can work in and through my weaknesses, that my weaknesses can become my testimony. I imagined my future and how one day, I could share with others, Yes, I was diagnosed with ADHD and severe OCD, but look at what God has done through my life. I finally had hope for the future.

Intersecting Faith & Life:

In 2 Corinthians, Paul talks about his weakness: “…So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.” (2 Corinthians 12:7b-8)

Paul was dealing with something uncomfortable, something he didn’t want, so much so that he brought it before the Lord. Paul continues, “Each time he said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

This morning, I was struggling and questioned why the Lord called me to do something that would require His help. It’s as if He helped me to understand—to overcome the difficulty of OCD in my life, I need God’s help. I need to let Him help me, and I need to accept the help He gives me through my counselor. I thought I was supposed to figure it out and try hard.

The thing about weaknesses is that we need God. It’s insufficiency in ourselves and finding what we need in Him. We all do and will continue to have weaknesses. What Paul is talking about in this scripture is actually delighting in his weaknesses. Why? Because it’s in our weaknesses that the Lord shows his power. That’s something to rejoice in.

Have you ever had a circumstance that was difficult, a weakness that was uncomfortable or you didn’t understand? Have you seen any evidence of God working through it? Invite Him into these spaces. Ask Him to show You how His “power works best in" your own weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

When we share about what God has done in our lives through our weaknesses or in the midst of difficult circumstances, we share our testimony with others. God can be glorified through it, through us.

Further Reading:

1 Peter 4:19

Romans 8:28

Weakness isn&rsquo;t something we naturally celebrate&mdash;but Scripture flips that idea on its head. In 2 Corinthians 12:9&ndash;10, we&rsquo;re reminded that God&rsquo;s power is made perfect in weakness, meaning the very areas we try to hide can become the places where His strength is most clearly seen. What feels like a limitation may actually be the beginning of a powerful testimony.
Instead of striving to appear strong or self-sufficient, God invites us to depend on Him. Weakness exposes our need&mdash;and that&rsquo;s exactly where grace steps in. Whether it&rsquo;s a personal struggle, a diagnosis, or an ongoing battle, God can work through it in ways that not only transform us but also encourage others. When we stop resisting our weakness and start surrendering it, we create space for God&rsquo;s power to move.
<hr data-start="795" data-end="798">
Highlights
<ul data-start="816" data-end="1301">
<li data-section-id="11srk5g" data-start="816" data-end="886">Weakness is not a disqualifier&mdash;it&rsquo;s an opportunity for God&rsquo;s power</li>
<li data-section-id="1t5qs4x" data-start="887" data-end="957">God&rsquo;s strength is most visible in areas where we feel insufficient</li>
<li data-section-id="1be5qb5" data-start="958" data-end="1014">Personal struggles can become meaningful testimonies</li>
<li data-section-id="1ik9tw7" data-start="1015" data-end="1081">Dependence on God replaces the pressure to &ldquo;figure it all out&rdquo;</li>
<li data-section-id="17d1x46" data-start="1082" data-end="1169">Paul&rsquo;s &ldquo;thorn&rdquo; reminds us that not every struggle is removed&mdash;but it can be redeemed</li>
<li data-section-id="1eeglep" data-start="1170" data-end="1242">Sharing our journey through weakness can encourage and impact others</li>
</ul>
Do you want to listen ad-free?
When you join&nbsp;Crosswalk Plus, you gain access to exclusive, in-depth Bible study guides, devotionals, sound biblical advice, and daily encouragement from trusted pastors and authors&mdash;resources designed to strengthen your faith and equip you to live it out boldly. PLUS ad free podcasts!&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/subscribe/?utm_source=subscribe_page&amp;utm_medium=YDBV&amp;utm_campaign=YDBV_PLUS">Sign Up Today!</a>
<hr>
Full Transcript Below:
Your Weakness May Be Your Testimony
By Lauren Fletcher
Bible Reading:
&ldquo;Each time he said, &ldquo;My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.&rdquo; So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That&rsquo;s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.&rdquo; - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
I never thought positively about my weaknesses. They were always something I tried diligently to hide, especially as a teenager. As an adult, I&rsquo;ve had times of embracing them, amongst grace-filled friends. I&rsquo;ve also had times where I didn&rsquo;t quite want to mention them (job interview, anyone?)&nbsp;
When I was diagnosed with ADHD and severe OCD, it hit me in a way I didn&rsquo;t expect. I was emotional and self-conscious. Severe?, I thought. Though these diagnoses were what my counselors and I suspected, when I had the official word, it took me some time to process. I thought about my life and wondered, what does this mean for my future? It all felt very heavy.
I talked with my friends for some support. They said things like, this is just a snapshot of what my symptoms were like at the time of testing, and that in the future, the severity might change. Many of them also said, &ldquo;That&rsquo;s not who you are,&rdquo; and that who I am is who I am in Christ. I am trying to hold onto their words and perspective as I move forward.
In light of the diagnoses, what helped me was realizing that God can work in and through my weaknesses, that my weaknesses can become my testimony. I imagined my future and how one day, I could share with others, Yes, I was diagnosed with ADHD and severe OCD, but look at what God has done through my life. I finally had hope for the future.
Intersecting Faith &amp; Life:
In 2 Corinthians, Paul talks about his weakness: &ldquo;&hellip;So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away.&rdquo; (2 Corinthians 12:7b-8)
Paul was dealing with something uncomfortable, something he didn&rsquo;t want, so much so that he brought it before the Lord. Paul continues, &ldquo;Each time he said, &lsquo;My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.&rsquo; So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That&rsquo;s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong&rdquo; (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).
This morning, I was struggling and questioned why the Lord called me to do something that would require His help. It&rsquo;s as if He helped me to understand&mdash;to overcome the difficulty of OCD in my life, I need God&rsquo;s help. I need to let Him help me, and I need to accept the help He gives me through my counselor. I thought I was supposed to figure it out and try hard.
The thing about weaknesses is that we need God. It&rsquo;s insufficiency in ourselves and finding what we need in Him. We all do and will continue to have weaknesses. What Paul is talking about in this scripture is actually delighting in his weaknesses. Why? Because it&rsquo;s in our weaknesses that the Lord shows his power. That&rsquo;s something to rejoice in.
Have you ever had a circumstance that was difficult, a weakness that was uncomfortable or you didn&rsquo;t understand? Have you seen any evidence of God working through it? Invite Him into these spaces. Ask Him to show You how His &ldquo;power works best in" your own weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
When we share about what God has done in our lives through our weaknesses or in the midst of difficult circumstances, we share our testimony with others. God can be glorified through it, through us.
Further Reading:
1 Peter 4:19
Romans 8:28

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.

Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:

☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It)
☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment
☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life
☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life
☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church
☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer
☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation
☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year

If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.

Are you a Christian looking for a daily devotional podcast to encourage, inspire, and convict you in your walk with Christ? 7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Daily Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life. Let's study the Bible together and through the experiences of other believers, learn how to apply the Word of God to our lives.
Here’s just some of what we cover in The Crosswalk Daily Devotional Podcast:
☕️ Why the Tongue Can't Be Tamed (And What to Do about It) ☕️ The Quickest Way to an Attitude Adjustment ☕️ Your Birthday: The Most and Least Important Day of Your Life ☕️ Noticing God's Blessings in the Hardest Moments of Life ☕️ One of the Sneakiest Lies Satan Is Telling the Church ☕️ How to Push Through the Weariness of Prayer ☕️ 3 Steps to Take When Facing Temptation ☕️ What to Remember during a Stressful Election Year
If you love what you're listening to on the podcast, be sure to check out our companion devotional at <a href="https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/">https://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/crosswalk-devo/.</a>

7 days a week, The Crosswalk.com Devotional Podcast offers wisdom and insight for applying Biblical truths to the ups and downs of everyday life.

The Crosswalk Devotional: A Daily Devotional Christian Podcast

The Crosswalk Devotional

Your Weakness May Be Your Testimony

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/2b45068f-801e-41a2-b4ec-b43200e1ed99/transcript