Our Persistence in Rejoicing
Sufficient Grace – Part 2

Scripture Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 12:9

But he said to me, “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.

The second part of God’s reply, to Paul’s request to be delivered from his thorn, is harder to understand. God told Paul that His power was made perfect in weakness. Paul’s thorn was a weakness of some sort. God chose not to bring His power to bear on it. Paul was going to have to live with this thorn. It, no doubt, made Paul feel weak in his ability to do life as he wanted. This thorn was evident to others and they could see Paul’s “weakness.” Surely there were questions of why God didn’t demonstrate His power through Paul by destroying this thorn.

You have had these questions, haven’t you? Why does God seem silent when you have pleaded with Him to demonstrate His power over your problems? What good, we ask, can come from this obvious weakness in my life? Wouldn’t it be a better witness for God to deliver me from it by His great power?

Yes, we all will face these questions when we walk with God. We must follow today’s verse. It holds some answers. God determines, in some instances, that a weakness left in place will be a constant reminder of His grace! When we are feeling very weak and needy, God can move freely in our lives. It’s our independence that gets us in trouble. Paul’s conclusion seems odd at first: “When I am weak, then I am strong.” He is saying, when I realize how much I need God, God can move powerfully and get all the glory!

Father, I accept the weaknesses you’ve left in place in my life. I will depend on you to use them to your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.