Reviewed, edited and approved by Jeff Robb. Scripture is quoted from the King James Version.
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Key passage: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (KJV)
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 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.
Reflection
Paul had every reason to boast. In this part of his letter he tells of being caught up into paradise and hearing unspeakable words. But then he tells of something else. There was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
We don't know what the thorn was. People have guessed for centuries. Maybe a sickness, maybe trouble with his eyes, maybe persecution. Scripture doesn't say. And maybe that's a mercy, because it means any of us can see our own struggle in his.
What we do know is that it hurt, and it didn't go away. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
Paul prayed. He prayed earnestly. And he prayed more than once. And God's answer was not yes.
But God did answer. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
Sufficient means enough. Not plenty to spare, maybe, but enough. Enough for today. Enough for this. God didn't remove the thorn, but He promised His grace would carry Paul through it.
And He tells him why. My strength is made perfect in weakness. When we're strong, it's easy to think we did it ourselves. When we're weak, it becomes clear where the strength is coming from.
That changed how Paul saw his weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Then he ends with this. For when I am weak, then am I strong.
That's the opposite of how most of us think. We hide our weaknesses. We pray for them to go away, and they're not wrong prayers. Paul prayed that way too. But sometimes the answer is grace instead of removal. And in that grace, Christ's power shows.
Maybe you have something like a thorn. A health problem that lingers. A hard relationship. A weakness you've prayed about many times. If the answer so far has been not yet, or no, it isn't because God hasn't heard. He is saying to you what He said to Paul. My grace is sufficient for thee.
Cross-references
Prayer
Lord, You know the thorn I carry and how often I have asked You to take it away. Thank You that Your grace is sufficient for me. Let Your strength be made perfect in my weakness, and let the power of Christ rest on me today. Amen.
For today: Bring your weakness to God honestly today, and ask for His grace to be enough for this one day.