“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. 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.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
No one enjoys suffering. We tend to treat pain like an intruder that forcefully enters our lives and robs us of our peace and vitality. It is difficult to grasp the fact that pain may actually produce positive results. For instance, a woman cannot enjoy the bliss of motherhood without going through labor pains. As we advance through the teenage years, our maturity typically comes as we endure growing pains. When a person joins a health club, he strives for optimal health by enduring great pain while he exercises. A muscle cannot grow without being stretched. This stretching process, when conducted properly, can be very painful at first, but ultimately produces positive results.
In a similar manner, spiritual growth often occurs through painful circumstances. We'd prefer spiritual growth that requires little effort or pain. But that is not how growth occurs. The most mature believers are the ones who've endured great pain and challenges. Their growth occurred in the school of affliction.
Such was the case for the Apostle Paul. He endured a painful experience that he called, “a thorn in the flesh.” The word, “thorn,” is metaphorically speaking of something that caused a great deal of pain for Paul. Some have speculated that this was a health issue, like poor eye-sight. Others believe that this “thorn,” was a person who caused him grief. The Bible doesn't give a lot of information about this thorn. It does say that the thorn was a messenger of Satan, designed to cause him pain. The devil caused his painful experience.
Paul was given insight concerning this “thorn.” He wrote, “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.” God permitted this painful experience so that Paul would be kept humble. It seems that Paul had a tendency to get proud. Although the devil was the one who caused the thorn, God permitted it. Apparently, Paul needed it.
Like many of us, Paul prayed for relief. He specifically asked God to remove this thorn. That sounds like a reasonable request, doesn't it? I think I would do the same thing in a similar situation. In spite of Paul's prayer, God refused to remove the thorn.
If you're like me, it hurts when God denies a prayer request. We think it is obvious that the answer should be a resounding, “yes.” However, God has more in mind than our temporal comfort or pleasure. His purposes run deeper than our surface desires. God's denial of Paul's request was not due to some flaw in his request. He was honest. He was sincere. Yet the answer was still, “no.”
God denied Paul's request because He had something better in mind for Paul. Here is God's actual reply to Paul's request: “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Rather than taking away the thorn, God would provide Paul with grace. This grace was sufficient for the situation. Through Paul's painful experience, God would demonstrate His perfect power.
Perhaps there are times God permits our affliction so that His great strength would be manifest through our weak lives. How do people endure such great problems? Is it not because God's grace and strength empowers them to endure? Maybe that is your case today.
Rather than complaining about God's denial of his request, Paul rejoiced. He wrote, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 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.” Paul learned a valuable lesson. It's a lesson we need to learn today. It is better to experience His power during our times of affliction than to live a carefree life without Him.
“When I am weak, then am I strong.” It is healthy to confess our weaknesses. We are not as strong as we think we are. In just a brief moment, our health can be taken away. The things that matter most to us can be removed in an instant. Death could come any time. No, we're not as strong as we think we are. Yet because of this truth, we should seek the divine strength that Paul enjoyed. No, I can't handle all my burdens, but I can call on the One who can. No, I can't move mountains out of my way, but I can entrust my future to the Mountain Mover. Many issues are complex and seem impossible to resolve. But my God specializes in impossible situations.
In our pain, He provides power. Power to go forward. Power to make it through this day. Strength for the battles I face. Help that I need most.
When I am weak, then I am strong.
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