My Grace Is Sufficient For You, For My Power Is Made Perfect I Weakness
The Best Is Yet To Come
2 CORINTHIANS 12:7-10
“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. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
”II Corinthians 12:7-10 NKJV
https://www.bible.com/114/2co.12.7-10.nkj
v
We don’t know exactly what Paul’s thorn was, but many suggest is was a disease of the eyes (see GALATIANS 4:13-15). But whatever it was, it was a chronic debilitating problem that hindered his daily life, his work, and ministry. But this debilitating problem made Paul more dependent on God and in his weakness God was made strong.
Three times Paul prayed for healing, but he never received it. It wasn’t that God didn’t hear his prayer because He said “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Paul didn’t receive immediate healing, but he did receive greater grace from God, a stronger character, humility, and the ability to emphasis with others.
Paul’s thorn brought weakness in his own abilities, and therefore made him more dependent on God, but in his weakness, God could work through him more, therefore His grace was sufficient for all Paul’s needs including in the end, for His healing.
Today, we can see through Paul’s life that our effectiveness for God does not rely on our abilities or strength, but rather on God’s.
In our own limitations and weakness, we become more dependent on God, and therefore as we stand back in submission and cooperate with God, we becomes more powerful and able in God’s strength to do His work and battle the spiritual forces that come against us, for it is God who gives us both the desire and power to do His will (PHILIPPIANS 2:13).
Maybe you have a debilitating thorn that for one reason or another, God refuses to heal. Don’t be angry or saddened, but rather be thankful; take pleasure in your infirmities, for like Paul, in your own weakness, you are made strong through Christ, for His grace is sufficient that you become strong in service, and in the end, you shall be healed by the stripes of Jesus Christ (ISAIAH 53:3-5).
Jesus said, ““Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.”
John 14:12-14 NKJV
These words of Jesus are a promise, but to receive one must totally submit to God in every aspect of life, rebuke the devil, confronting him with your words, and then he will flee.
This life and the troubles it brings are temporary, but we can all be encouraged because we believers can be confident that our suffering is temporary, but important to teach and mould us into what God wants us to be.
But the truth is whatever situation we face in this life, we have the confident hope that the best is yet to come, and our suffering will eventually be put behind us eternally.
My brothers and sisters, regardless of the thorn in your life, get out there and share God’s Good News, “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give (MATHEW 10:8), because that is what you are called to do. But don’t do it in your own power and abilities, but rather accept that you can’t do anything good in your own power, and give it to God in total submission, because His grace is sufficient, for His strength is made perfect in your weakness.
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
