I'm weak, but He's strong.

In 2 Corinthians 12:9 it says "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. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong". This passage encompasses my experience throughout the whole CSP Hometown Bakersfield trip. Prior to coming to coming on the CSP trip, during my winter break, I encountered some of the heaviest warfare I've ever experienced as a Christian. Everything thing from doubt, to fear, to insecurity, had seemingly crept back up in my life, which were things I really struggled with before I seriously gave my life to Christ 2 and a half years ago. Feelings that felt foreign to me, suddenly plagued my thoughts and emotions constantly. However, despite the state of my spiritual walk, God gave me the strength to persevere. Not only did He encourage me greatly through my brothers and sisters in Christ and through reading Scripture, but He even used my greatly for His kingdom even when I felt so weak. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, I was able to lead two young girls to Christ this week. I was so astonished that even in the state of my weakness, God used my story to lead Savanna Garcia from Shafter High and Beatriz Quintero from Bakersfield High to Him. The experience was so touching; I asked them if a relationship with Christ was something they desired to have in their life, they just looked so ready. I remember just feeling so joyful when they nodded to receive Him and when we prayed the sinner's prayer together, it just made me so joyful. I'm so awestruck at the fact that not only God uses us in spite of our weakness, but I think the crazier thing is that, broken and weak people are exactly the ones God calls and uses for His glory. The reality is, that we are all just broken people who've found Truth and strength through Him, and I'm so glad that all it takes is for us to accept and commit our lives to Him, and He fills in the blanks for everything else!!! Although, I'm still enduring struggle right now, I know it is for the greater purpose for His kingdom, as He continues to mold me into His likeness and make Him the only thing I boast about. I still have a long way to go, and much more to learn and experience through Him, but my prayer is that my life can encompass this song lyric one day, because in the end it is He who deserves all the glory: "I will not boast in anything: no gifts, no power, no wisdom. But I will boast in Jesus Christ; his death and resurrection."