Weakness! Insults, distress, pain, hardships, persecution, difficulties! Sometimes a messenger of Satan, but always allowed by God, weakness keeps us from exalting ourselves. Satan the destroyer would have us either despair at what we can’t do, or be prideful in what we can do. But God is working His plan in us to eliminate pride and produce faith & humility. Christ will be exalted, as we in our weakness, find our strength only in Him. This message so ministered to me. Let it encourage you today.
And because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me–to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I entreated the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Cor. 12:7-10.
Audio: Christ’s Power is Made Perfect in Weakness, by John Piper
Witnessing Encouragement 
This is so interesting to me…faith and humility working together…being worked into my life through weakness, …He is truly doing this for me and I marvel at His wisdom and patience as I learn to trust Him…Him alone.
Shirley, amen. This is right where I’m at (for a long time now). God is so, so good to lovingly complete His work in us thru trials & pain……….weakness……..to bring us from both despair and pride……….to utter dependence on Christ’s strength alone………………this faith/trust and humility He is working in us pleases Him and gives Him glory. wow.