Joel M Bradshaw

30If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.–2 Corinthians 11

During this time, various men were traveling around claiming to be somebody better than Paul. They considered themselves not merely apostles, but super-apostles. They accompanied their work with great boastings. In this chapter, Paul spoke about boasting.

These other guys were making boasts according to the flesh. When we do this, we make ourselves look good. I don’t like listening to speakers or preachers who are always the heroes of their own stories. I received a compliment yesterday about a recent blogpost of mine concerning two kinds of grief. I responded to the man, “Yup, it was a really difficult night for me.” God had provided for me during a night of weakness. I regret my attitude that night, but I celebrate the God who brought me through it.

Paul took some time talking about the things that had been done to him. The beatings, the sleepless nights, constant danger, constant anxiety. His boastings had the effect of presenting him as not the hero. During Paul’s weakness God was strong. During Paul’s troubles God protected. During Paul’s times of worry God provided.

One of my favorite brags about God is that during an early season of my MS when I had no health insurance, God provided for me. I was in seminary and making almost no money. I was living a state away from my family and had my first apartment. During that season, God provided. My (thousands of dollars a month) MS medication was offered to me by the company at a sliding monthly scale of 10 dollars. A hospital simply wrote off a (thousands of additional dollars) necessary MRI to check the lesions on my brain. My neurologist from back home was able to speak with me through her nurse over the phone to maintain my prescriptions.

And I remember being healthy during that season. I had no MS flareups. I was vulnerable and making little money. I worked and studied a total of 70 hours a week. During that season, I started drinking coffee by the pot as I pulled all-nighters. And God provided for me. He brought me through. He quieted my disease during a season of great vulnerability. I didn’t see it at the time, but just kept plugging on. I was doing ministry and being equipped at seminary.

I boast in the God who cares for me during my weakness. My boasts are to proclaim God’s strength, not mine. That was Paul’s story, too. Is it yours?–JMB