So The Power Of Christ Can Work Through Me

To keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

WE DON’T KNOW WHAT PAUL’S “THORN” WAS. What we do know is that it was far more than a slight discomfort. Whatever the difficulty was, it brought unrelenting agony. Paul was able to see that the thorn was a provision from God to keep him from the sin of spiritual pride. But, like most of us, he wanted it removed. So he pleaded with God to take it away. God’s response to his prayer was not to give Paul the healing he yearned for. Instead, he promised to give Paul more of himself, saying, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”

Perhaps you have pleaded in prayer for yourself or for your family, and God has so far said no. If so, the promise and provision God spoke to Paul, he also speaks to you. He will give you the grace you need to faithfully endure the pain he does not take away, the problem he does not solve, or the resolution he does not bring about. His divine power to persevere doesn’t really work for people who think, I can handle this. Instead, his power works best in people —in parents —who recognize that they face something far beyond their ability to handle on their own.

In our day Christianity is often reduced to a method to make life go well. But spiritual strength is not about having such a special connection to God that we are able to convince him to say yes to our request to change our circumstances. Here is the supernatural experience that God has promised: the power of Christ coming down to rest on you when the worst thing you can imagine happens to you or to someone you love. He can make you content even when he does not take away the source of your agonizing pain.

Lord, we want to take hold of your promise of sufficient grace. We believe that you will give us the grace we need in the form, the timing, and the quantity we need it to face whatever may come. Our desire is that your glory and goodness would be put on display in our lives so those around us see that your divine power is enough to provide us peace in hardship.