I Surrender: Inspirational Devotions Written by PrisonersNäide

I WAS BLIND, BUT NOW I SEE

“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.” —2 CORINTHIANS 12:9

My life had been the perfect success story, the great American dream fulfilled. But all at once, I realized that it was not my success God had used to enable me to help those in prison. All of my achievements meant nothing in God’s economy. No, the real legacy of my life was my biggest failure—that I was an ex-convict. My greatest humiliation—being sent to prison—was the beginning of God’s greatest use of my life. He chose the one experience in which I could not glory, for His glory.

Confronted with this staggering truth, I discovered that my world was turned upside down. I understood with a jolt that I had been looking at life backward. But now I could see: only when I lost everything I thought made Chuck Colson a great guy had I found the true self God intended me to be and the true purpose of my life.

It is not what we do that matters but what a sovereign God chooses to do through us. The kingdom of God is a paradox, where victory comes through defeat, healing through brokenness, and finding self through losing self. Surely that was so in my life. If you also have walked through the valley of failure, I pray it will be true in yours.

—Chuck Colson

PRAYER: Lord, thank You that Your grace is sufficient for our every need. May we find our purpose and value in You, today and always. Amen.