2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
9. 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.

Mark 8:34-38 (ESV)
34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul?

I will boast about my weakness. I’m not in the driver’s seat. I need to take up my cross – my weaknesses, my pains, and follow Christ. Don’t run from suffering, embrace it (from The Message translation). Hmmmm, really? I need to do this to save my life?

As usual, God’s way doesn’t work with how I look at things. Yet, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul?” Big questions. What can a man get for his soul? I’m sure some people know. Funny thing is, it’s a question/answer that lasts for eternity which we try to frame up in terms of our time here on earth.

My soul is tied to my weakness which can only be made well by Christ’s power in me. No matter what happens, God’s grace is sufficient. Grace. Unmerited forgiveness. Salvation. I can’t do that on my own and no amount of self help is going to get me there. Eternal salvation.

Mark 8:38 (MSG)
38 “If any of you are embarrassed over me and the way I’m leading you when you get around your fickle and unfocused friends, know that you’ll be an even greater embarrassment to the Son of Man when he arrives in all the splendor of God, his Father, with an army of the holy angels.”

As contrary as it seems, the way to your save your soul is by following Christ, (submitting to a higher power, not directing it like a puppeteer), learning as we go, embracing the good and the bad, living with our frailness. We’re there when “My grace is sufficient” is sufficient.