Weakness

"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

We all have weaknesses, even though sometimes we choose not to let anyone know so we can show up strong in front of them. Sometimes we just want to escape trials or ask God to remove us from it and would hear an answer from Him that is a complete opposite of what we are expecting. Paul had this "thorn in the flesh." The scripture does not clarify if this was physical, emotional, or a temptation that led him to cry out to God repeatedly for relief (2 Corinthians 12:7–8). He pleaded with the Lord to have this thorn in his flesh removed, but the reply he received from the Lord Jesus was very different from the answer he had expected.

My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness...

Paul was informed that even though the Lord would not take away this thorn in his flesh, he would receive God's grace to endure it. Paul not only found joy in his sufferings but was also empowered to find glory in them. He expressed his willingness to proudly boast about his weaknesses, including this thorn in his flesh. How could he possibly find a reason to celebrate amidst such a painful struggle?

Because it is in those areas where believers are weakest that Christ's power shines most brightly. God's main focus for His children is not a life of comfort and pleasure. His primary desire is that we have faith in Him. This entails allowing Christ's strength to manifest in our weaknesses and not holding it against Him for allowing us to experience those weaknesses.

Regardless of the challenges and difficulties we encounter, we can take comfort in knowing that God's grace is always enough to see us through any situation. Let us, like Paul, find joy in our weaknesses and vulnerabilities so that we may experience the strength of Christ within us, bringing glory to His name.

2 Corinthians 12:7–8

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.