Male
peacocks are resplendent creatures with iridescent blue-green plumage and
elongated trains tipped with “eyes” colored in hues of gold, red, and blue. They
are strikingly beautiful birds, but they have ugly feet!
To be
honest, most of us have some type of physical limitation. It may be something
we’ve borne all our lives or one we’ve recently acquired.
Paul
described his deficiency as a “thorn in the flesh” that kept him humble (2 Cor.
12:7-9). Three times he asked the Lord to remove it, probably thinking that he
could then serve God better. But the Lord assured him, “My grace is sufficient
for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Paul replied, “Therefore
most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may
rest upon me.”
One of
the ironies of faith is that God often chooses us to accomplish His most
important tasks despite our imperfections, not because of our speaking
ability, looks, or fitness for the task. Missionary Hudson Taylor said, “God
was looking for someone weak enough to use, and he found [you and me]!” When we
find our strength in Him, He can use us in ways we could never imagine (v.9).
God’s
strength is best seen in our weakness. (RBC)
