The Most Joyful Journey: Relying on His Power

"Fake it till you make it” means to project confidence and competence, even if you don't feel it, to achieve a goal or become someone you aspire to be. It's the idea that by acting as though you have the skills or qualities you desire, you can eventually acquire them through experience and practice. Yet this can be a tiring, even dangerous game to play.

In his letter to the Christians at Corinth, the Apostle Paul doesn’t fake it. He gets vulnerable about his personal struggles. There were some who looked down on Paul, suggesting that if he were truly an apostle he’d project strength. Instead, Paul boasted about his weaknesses because they taught him to rely not on himself but on God who raised Jesus from the dead.

This year during Holy Week we’ve been reflecting on Jesus’ journey, which Paul divided into three legs. The journey began with Jesus setting aside his rights and privileges as the Eternal Son of God, submitting to the plan of His Heavenly Father. The second leg of the journey led to his suffering, becoming obedient to death on a cross. Finally, it would end in his exaltation, which we celebrate on Easter Sunday, his resurrection from the dead. 

Paul compares his own spiritual journey to that of Jesus. In fact, it is the path marked out for all Christians. While we might be tempted to project confidence and competence, only in weakness and desperation can we truly experience God’s power. This is the most joyful journey.