My Faith Is Strongest When I Am Weakest

I recently calculated that the countdown until my 40th birthday.  As of today, there are 82 days.  I was thinking about the drastic physical issues I've dealt with in the last 6 months and hoping that after 2 major abdominal surgeries I will physically be feeling better than I have in years by the time I reach this milestone.  

Recently, while I was contemplating my latest surgery, I recalled one of my favorite bible passages.  I remember hearing the sermon from Pastor Jerls in 1994 in which he discussed this passage.

2 Corinthians 12:9-11

King James Version (KJV)

⁹ 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.

¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

¹¹ I am become a fool in glorying; ye have compelled me: for I ought to have been commended of you: for in nothing am I behind the very chiefest apostles, though I be nothing.

I recently wondered if it is any type of coincidence that this passage contains verses 9-11?  Of course, it isn't the biblical passage I called upon during my time of weakness on September 11, 2001 (Psalm 23:4 was the one I quietly recited to myself that day) but I can't help but wonder about the irony.

It is true, in the times of my greatest weaknesses, it is at those times that my faith is always the strongest.