“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 (NIV)

Let’s be honest. We’re all a little messy. We overthink. We shut down. We lash out. We compare, we envy, we fall short. It’s part of being human. 

But somewhere along the line, we bought the lie that being “whole” means being flawless. That we have to hide the parts of ourselves that feel broken, anxious, insecure, or ashamed.

And I’ve tried that. I’ve masked my flaws with busy schedules, fixed smiles, and fake confidence. But here’s what I’ve learned—healing doesn’t happen in hiding.

Healing happens in realness.

“My Grace Is Sufficient”

When Paul wrote about boasting in his weakness, he wasn’t saying, “Hey, look how messed up I am!” It was deeper than that. He was saying, “Even in my weakness, God shows up. His power is right there—in the cracks.”

That hit me one morning when I was doing reflective journaling after a rough week. I felt emotionally drained, like I had nothing to offer. And then that verse came to mind. “My power is made perfect in weakness.” Not in strength. Not in perfection. Not when I have it all together. But in the low moments when I feel like I’m falling apart.

That’s when I started to get real about who I was: flaws, fears, failures, and all.

Kendrick Lamar Gets It

You know who else gets it?

Kendrick Lamar – i (I Love Myself)

That song is a whole anthem of self-love in the face of chaos. He’s not saying, “I love myself because I’m perfect.” He’s saying, “I love myself even though I’ve been through pain, mistakes, and struggle.”

There’s this line that sticks with me:

“I went to war last night / With an automatic weapon, don’t nobody call a medic.”

It’s raw. It’s vulnerable. And yet, he still declares, “I love myself.” Not because he’s figured everything out, but because he knows his worth is not erased by his wounds.

Why It Matters for Self-Esteem

You can’t build healthy self-esteem by pretending. You build it by facing your flaws with honesty and grace. That means:

• Admitting when you mess up
• Owning your triggers
• Letting go of perfectionism
• Receiving love even when you feel unlovable

You don’t need to fix yourself to be worthy. You just need to stop hiding. God’s not looking for polished. He’s looking for honesty.

Boast in Your Weakness

These days, I don’t try to fake it anymore. I don’t always get it right, but I’m learning that vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s a superpower. 

When I admit I need grace, I receive more of it. When I confess my struggles, I connect with others more deeply. And when I lean into God’s strength instead of my own, I find peace I couldn’t earn on my best day.

So let this be your reminder:

🖤 You are not your flaws

🖤 You don’t have to be perfect to be powerful

🖤 God’s grace is sufficient—right now, exactly as you are

Want to feel that truth in your bones?

Hit play on Kendrick’s video.

Let it wash over you.

Let it remind you that loving yourself as you are is an act of holy resistance.

🎧 Kendrick Lamar – i (I Love Myself)

Copyright © 2025 by Edna Brown. All Rights Reserved.