it doesn’t say you’re strong

2 Corinthians 12:9

I was shocked.

Actually, I was disgusted.

There, in my Instagram feed, were the words “You are enough” with the reference 2 Corinthians 12:9. (I love seeing my peers sometimes with signs like this and then looking up what the verse actually says.)

But this time?

The paraphrase was straight-up blasphemous.

Let’s look at this passage. (You let me know if you see “you are enough” anywhere. ANYWHERE.)

New International Version
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

New Living Translation
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 

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

King James Bible
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Hmmmmm . . yeah, not seeing that. I see

• God’s grace
• My weakness
• My infirmities
• Christ’s power

What I see is

NO—you aren’t enough.

Child, you are weak. You are only human.

Humans fail. They get sick. They go through pain: mentally, physically, emotionally, spiritually.

They ask for things that aren’t best for them.

They cry.

But you know what?

God is enough.

So you can be okay with your weaknesses.

If you didn’t fail, you’d be the one getting the glory. If you never got sick, people wouldn’t have the opportunity to see your good attitude or God’s healing power. If you didn’t go through pain, now hear this: YOU WOULDN’T NEED GOD.

If you got everything you ever asked for . . .

If you never cried . . .

God wouldn’t be glorified.

GOD. IS. ENOUGH.

YOU ARE NOT.

So, let’s careful when we buy that cute verse plaque, post a cute verse on our social media, or set our phone wallpaper to a verse. Is that what the verse is really saying? Or is it just another you-are-worth-it message from our me-saturated culture?

Any other verse examples that get taken out of context? Do you think this paraphrase was accurate?