Perfect in Weakness?

When we think about this idea of appearance versus reality there are probably a lot of things that people with physical disabilities appear to be. One of these misperceptions is that people with disabilities appear to be weak. But what does that definition ‘weak’ really mean? If we are talking about physical weakness yes, I am physically weak. When I was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy when I was six months old my parents knew that life was going to be a little different for me. The doctors that they met with prepped them for the worst saying I would probably never be able to walk, to talk, or to live on my own. Today, by the grace of God I am doing all those things.

The apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." Our strength is made perfect in weakness. Over the years I have come to know that while my disability may present some profound weaknesses I am even more grateful for the areas in which it produces insurmountable strength. I firmly believe that my disability gives me the platform to loudly proclaim the Gospel of Christ to a wide variety of people. Because while there may be some things about my disability that I do not understand, while there may be days where the pain seems nearly unbearable, while there may be moments where I am just tired of the whole thing, I and we need to remember that God is in the midst of redeeming, restoring, and transforming the broken realities and the weaknesses of our lives to reflect His glory and the reality is, that is anything but weak.