It’s Tuesday morning. I start my day by opening the Bible App and reading the full chapter and context around the “verse of the day.”

 “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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”  ~2 Corinthians 12:9

“Ok, Lord.  I have read this verse a hundred times.  What do you want me to see? How do you want me to receive this? Open my eyes.”

I read the chapter again, close the app, and roll out of bed.

(It’s surprisingly difficult to write the past like it’s the present, so I’m stopping that voice now…. lol.)

Aliza had been sick over the weekend and it was Christmas concert day at her school, so I let her sleep a little longer.  Fully planning on being a little late that day. (I teach the sweet three year olds at the preschool she attends.) Everything was by the door and ready to go when we finally got ready to leave.

Hiccup #1: My makeup was left in the other car, which my husband took to work. So I had to lead my class at their concert, feeling disheveled and unkempt.

Hiccup #2: We got to school (with time to spare), and I realized I forgot the shirts my 3 yr olds made specifically to wear during the concert, and the CD with their music.

Hiccup #3: I forgot to brush Aliza’s hair and she looked sick and homeless on stage. 😦

As I rode back home to get the CD and shirts, feeling my blood pressure rising and anxiety pushing its way through my mind, I hear His words from my time with Him that morning, “My Power is made perfect in weakness.”

“But, Lord, I want to be perfect for you! I want to show other’s that because of my dedication to You I try harder, I care more, I pursue excellence! This morning is not showing anyone those those things!  I want to be perfect for You!”

“But, dear one, My power is made perfect in weakness.”

“But in the past, people have said I’m the one who does the least.  Who doesn’t try as hard.  I’m the “hot mess” no one depends on to get things done.  I don’t want to be that girl! That isn’t who You want me to be, is it? It can’t be….”

“My power is made perfect in weakness.”

“Ok, Lord. I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Your power may rest on  me. Tidy up my hot mess.”

Here’s what I’ve learned:  I must give my best. And when my best gets run down with road blocks, hiccups, and detours, I must look to Christ. I must see what He needs to me to see and realize I cannot do it all, and that’s ok. It’s MORE than ok.  We need to be able to ask other people for help. To reveal our weaknesses to each other.  Not only do we give Christ a chance to shine through us when we admit we cannot do it on our own, but we open up opportunities for serving each other.

 God created me (and YOU) with immeasurable potential for greatness. Not because of who we are, but because of Who He is.  He has made me capable to complete (with excellence) tasks set before me.  Therefore, I will try. I will not settle for laziness and complacency in my faith or in life (just because giving my best and stepping out of my comfort zone is difficult for me).  I will try.  I will fail.  I will try again.

Because where I am weak, HE IS STRONG.  And my weaknesses are an opportunity for God to show His power at work within me.

⁷ So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations,^[a] 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.