To the Ends of the Earth: Character – Week 8, Day 5 - Being Frail Means We Become More Powerful in Our Witness

By Mark C. McCann

10/26/2024 • View profile

To the Ends of the Earth: Character – Week 8, Day 5 - Being Frail Means We Become More Powerful in Our Witness

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” I will all the more gladly boast of my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 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.

2 Corinthians 12:9–10

I’m sure all of us have either said or heard the words, “God could never use me — I’m not good enough.” Believe it or not, this statement is only half right. True, we are not good enough. We do not deserve mercy for our sins, and we are not capable of doing anything to merit grace. However, God not only can use us in powerful ways, but he also wants to. He showers us with his grace, making us powerful agents of change, able to endure hardships and harassment from the world as we carry out his will and build the kingdom through our witness. In Christ, we turn from fear to fortitude and share a love that overcomes all.

A good father looks at his son and sees the beauty and potential that lie in the deepest places of his heart. The son slowly shapes his life to become the person his father calls him to be. So it is with us. Our heavenly Father gives grace to us, perfecting us as we overcome our weaknesses in his strength. God sees us through the eyes of the favor he has bestowed upon us. So let us boast in our weaknesses, knowing that the grace of God will turn cowardice into courage, difficulty into determination, and despair into dawning hope (cf. 2 Tim 1:7).

Questions for Reflection

How has recognizing your need for God’s grace made you a better witness?

How has accepting your weakness made you better able to share the Gospel and serve others in love?

Praying with Scripture

But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience for an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. (1 Tim 1:16)

You can learn more about the To the Ends of the Earth Series HERE

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About the Author

Mark C. McCann

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Mark C. McCann is an author and Ministry Consultant with more than 30 years of writing and ministry experience. He has published articles for a number of Catholic magazines and websites including St. Anthony Messenger, Emmanuel Magazine, Liguorian Magazine, Catholic Stand, the Connecticut Catholic Men's Conference, and Homiletic and Pastoral Review. He recently published the 4-volume Catholic men's devotional, To the Ends of the Earth, as well as the 2021 Advent Daybreaks devotional and 2022 Lenten Daybreaks devotional with Liguori Publishing. He has also released his End Times novel series, Jacob's Dream: The Vision and Jacob's Dream: The Final Battle. He was a radio host and producer for 8 years at a Connecticut Christian radio station and has worked as a Catholic religion teacher/campus minister and a parish youth minister. He has also served the Norwich, CT Diocese as a Youth Ministry Director and Family Life Director. He currently lives in Connecticut with his Proverbs 31 wife, where together they have brought up three incredible children. He strives each day to live out his call to be a man of words. You can learn more about Mark and his writing at www.wordsnvisions.com.