I Samuel 13, I Chronicles 2-3; 2 Corinthians 12

“So 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

Paul discovered that this thorn in his flesh had a divine purpose; it was something that God had allowed. He recognized that in God’s sovereign plan for his life, all things would work together for good. This ‘thorn’ was not a small thing; it was really more like a tent stake, the type that the Bedouins used to set up their homes. So when Paul was talking about this thorn in the flesh—he was talking about a large, irritating and undeniable thorn. When I trim the roses or even just cut some to bring inside, a small thorn can prick you and at first it doesn’t seem so bad, but imagine that thorn if you couldn’t remove it? Ouch…each day it would become more and more painful and irritating. This is how Paul lived every day. We do not know what the thorn is and perhaps the Lord did not want us to know so we could all relate to Paul’s experience. Paul uses the word ‘infirmary, infirmity’ to describe the thorn in the flesh. An infirmary is a hospital, a place where sick people go. This is what Paul calls his thorn, an infirmity, a weakness, an ailment. Now I don’t know about you but I don’t like to admit I have weakness, can you relate? I mean, who wants to admit weakness? Admitting we have a weakness just goes against nature? Apparently, Paul’s weakness was evident to others and he accepted the fact he just had to live with it and allowed God to work humility in him through this process. Three times Paul asks God to deliver him from this weakness, this thorn, but the Lord speaks, “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians. 12:9) We don’t know if Paul asked again but we do know that he was able to experience God’s grace in this process. Paul goes on to say that not only does he receive God’s grace but he glories in it. He is saying, if this is what brings God glory, than so be it. What a wonderful place to be, a great place of trust and rest in the purposes God had for Paul. When we come to this place of accepting our weaknesses, than God is able to become our strength. It is a simple but complex principle that we even sang about in Sunday School, “Jesus loves me this I know for the Bible tells me so, little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me….the Bible tells me so!”

Be strong in the Lord!
Carol Danna

Next Reading: I Samuel 14; I Chronicles 4; 2 Corinthians 13