Jesus is our strength in 2 Corinthians.
Not strength that always feels good. Not strength that always shows up in power
moves or miracle moments. But strength in weakness. Grace in
affliction. Victory in vulnerability.
This letter is Paul at his most personal. He peels back the
layers. He shows us his scars. And through every word, Jesus stands as the
source of his ability to keep going. When people doubted Paul’s calling, when
suffering overwhelmed him, when the burden felt like too much—Paul pointed not
to his credentials, but to Jesus.
Jesus, the Image of God and the Light in the Darkness
Early in the letter, Paul writes something so rich and
layered it still echoes in my soul:
“For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’
made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of
God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.” (2 Corinthians 4:6)
The glory of God is seen in the face of Jesus.
When everything else goes dim—when the world is falling
apart, when we feel like jars of clay—Jesus is still shining.
Paul is saying: We are fragile, but the light inside us
is not.
That light is Jesus. And He never fades.
Jesus, the Grace That Covers Our Weakness
This is the letter where Paul talks about the thorn. That
unnamed struggle, pain, or affliction that just would not go away.
And Jesus does not remove it. Instead, He says:
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made
perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
That line shifts everything.
Jesus does not always remove the weight.
Sometimes, He becomes our strength under it.
Jesus is not only present in our power moments—He is present
when we are empty.
Present when we are hurting.
Present when we are misunderstood and overlooked.
That makes me love Him more.
Jesus, the Ministry and the Message
Paul also talks about ministry in this letter—not as
platform, but as service.
“For we do not preach ourselves, but Jesus Christ as
Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.” (2 Corinthians 4:5)
Jesus is not just what we talk about.
He is how we live.
He is what we offer.
He is why we endure.
Paul reminds us that everything we have—the calling, the
boldness, the comfort, the hope—it all flows through Jesus.
And it all points back to Jesus.
Jesus Is Our Strength. Let Him Be Enough.
2 Corinthians reminds me that Christianity is not about
appearing strong.
It is about being rooted in Jesus, who is strong for us.
He is not disappointed by your weakness.
He is not surprised by your tears.
He is not turned off by your struggle.
He meets you there.
He holds you up.
He speaks grace over your life.
And when you cannot carry it all—He says, “Let me be
enough.”
Jesus is our strength. Not just in triumph, but in
trouble.
Not just in clarity, but in confusion.
Not just in power, but in pain.
So I will boast in Him.
Rest in Him.
And keep going because of Him.