When we have a project to do, or problem to work out, we want to be in the best condition possible to handle it. We want to be strong, whether physically, mentally, or emotionally, with no signs of weakness. When we look for someone to handle a job for us, we also look for the strongest, the best candidate, the one most seemingly fit to take charge. However, as we read through our Scripture passage today from II Corinthians, we see that this is not always the qualifications that God is looking for to get His work done. Let’s take a look.
As our Scripture passage opens, Paul describes an event that happened to someone several years prior (vs. 2-4). This man experienced an occasion where he was bodily caught up into heaven, where he saw and witnessed such indescribable things that he was unable to talk about them. Most Bible scholars believe that Paul is talking about himself here. He didn’t want to seem like he was boasting, so he referred to himself in the third person. Because Paul saw such spectacular things, and witnessed such heavenly glory, things that no other living person had seen, God gave him a “thorn in the flesh” to keep him from boasting and becoming proud (vs. 7).
What was this “thorn in the flesh”? Paul never specifically identified what it was. It was possibly an illness or physical affliction. Some have thought it could have been a problem he had with his eyes and vision, but it was never clearly specified. It could possibly have been a vicious adversary. Whatever it was, God used this affliction from Satan to keep Paul humble. The affliction was painful and distressing, but purposeful. This was to keep Paul from becoming proud, especially because of the many revelations and visions he had experienced.
No suffering is pleasant. We all know that. Whenever we are going through something painful or distressing, we pray and beg God to bring us relief. Paul was no different. He pleaded with God desperately, with great effort on three very specific occasions to remove this “thorn”, to bring him relief (vs. 8). God told him “no”, He was not going to remove the affliction. Now if this was us, how would we respond? I know that I would probably not be very happy. With the Holy Spirit’s help, Paul came to understand the Lord’s call to endure in spite of pain.
As we read further, we see that God told Paul that His grace is sufficient, and that he needed to depend on that, rather than his own strength and abilities (vs. 9). This affliction might have made Paul physically weak, and our afflictions might handicap our natural abilities, but there is a constant availability of God’s grace for each of us to rely on. God would continually supply Paul, and us, with grace to endure our thorns. The weaker the human instrument, the more clearly God’s grace shines forth.
Brokenness and weakness is God’s requirement for usefulness to Him. His power is displayed in weak people, people who cannot and do not rely upon themselves, but upon Him. We must rely on God, and not our own energy, effort, or talent. When we admit our weakness we affirm God’s strength. When we are helpless and without our own resources, we must depend on God’s provisions, and all glory goes to Him. God will not enable the person who strives in their own strength. He who relies upon his own abilities for victory has relied wrongly. It is only by God’s Spirit we can achieve (Zechariah 4:6). There must be a consciousness of weakness before the Lord will give us victory.
Paul rejoiced in his sufferings because they kept him close to God and obedient to Him (vs. 10). They helped keep him in constant contact with God, and allowed others to see Him at work in his life. When we are strong in our own ability, we are tempted to do God’s work on our own, which will lead to pride. When we are weak, God will fill us with His power. The strength of Christ can be exhibited through us only when we know we are weak.
It does not matter how weak we think we are, or how oppressed or downtrodden. In God’s hands, our weakness makes room for His strength. It is through His power, and His power alone, that we can do amazing things. The grace of God is greater than our thorn in the flesh. For when we are weak, then, looking to Christ alone in that moment of weakness, we are strong. We can regard each limitation as a gift that reveals God as our strength.
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