2 Corinthians 12:8-10 – “Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (CSB)
I was told a story once by two women at an event. I asked when they told it to me if I could have their permission to share it. Now you absolutely may not believe what I am about to tell you, but I want you to know that I absolutely do.
Their names are Carla Martin and Kathy Luke, and they are members at South Ridge General Baptist Church in Arkansas. Each year, their church puts on a fall fest to support kids in their community who want something to do on Halloween. The church only has 50-60 members, and these two women were in charge of cooking the food for the kids who came to the event. They decided on hot dogs last year and bought several packs to feed what they assumed would be maybe thirty people. But then kids kept pouring into the church. One of them called their husband in a panic and asked him to run to the store and bring them more packs of hot dogs. They were in total shock. They had never had this many kids come into the church for fall fest before.
“My husband brought us more hot dogs, and we couldn’t get them in the oven fast enough. Eventually, I realized even with our additional packages, we wouldn’t have enough.” Someone counted just how many people were fed by the church that evening. This small Baptist church with 50-60 members somehow provided meals to 800 people that night. They never ran out.
“But here’s the thing,” Carla and Kathy said, both grabbing my arm, “we only purchased 200 hot dogs. When everyone left, we counted the packages. And yet every time I opened the oven, more hot dogs were on the pan. Somehow, 800 people ate, but we only had 200 hot dogs.”
God doesn’t need the numbers. And I remind myself of this when I feel stirred to start something but don’t think I’ll have the resources to finish it. I think sometimes we rob ourselves of seeing the strength of God, because we refuse to do anything in which we may look weak.
What if Carla and Kathy didn’t put on the fall fest, because they didn’t think they’d have enough hot dogs? They would have missed an incredible opportunity to see God provide for them in a way they still cannot believe. They would have missed seeing how much God was invested in their community. That story right now is the highlight of their faith. It’s their ‘Ebenezer’ stone, a moment where they saw the God of the universe care about what was happening in their 50-member church. These two women, serving in the kitchen, got to have an encounter with God. Not because of how powerful they were. But because they were the ones who showed up.
Acts 1:8 says, “you shall be witnesses of me,” and that is what they are. If you are ever in Arkansas, stop and see them at South Ridge General Baptist Church. They will grab you by the hand and take you straight into the kitchen and whisper, “Let me tell you what I’ve seen.”
2 Corinthians 12:8-10 read in the CSB, “Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times that it would leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.’ Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Stop counting how many obstacles are against you or how many enemies are at your door. His strength is made perfect in your weakness.
God doesn’t need the numbers.
About the Author:
Dr. Heather Thompson Day is an interdenominational speaker, an ECPA bestseller, and has been a contributor for Religion News Service, Christianity Today, Newsweek, and the Barna Group. Her new podcast, What If I’m Wrong? debuted in the top 200 of all Christian podcasts.
Heather was a communication professor for nearly 15 years, teaching both graduate and undergraduate students in Public Speaking, Persuasion, and Social Media. She is now the founder of It Is Day Ministries, a nonprofit organization that trains churches, leaders, and laypeople in what Heather calls Cross Communication, a gospel centered communication approach that points you higher, to the cross, every time you open your mouth.
Heather’s writing has been featured on outlets like the Today Show and the National Communication Association. She has been interviewed by BBC Radio Live and The Wall Street Journal.
She believes her calling is to stand in the gaps of our churches. She is the author of 9 books, including It’s Not Your Turn, I’ll See You Tomorrow, Can I Sit Here?, and What If I’m Wrong?
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