LEARNING DAILY

 

2 Corinthians 12:9a, And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

 

The apostle Paul suffered greatly as he walked with Christ. There was one specific problem that was a great concern for him: “a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted by the message”. Paul was so concerned about this that he asked the Lord three different times that it might be taken from him. The Lord’s reply is seen in the verse above.  

 

There has been much debate regarding what this “thorn in the flesh” was. It was something that Paul believed would impact his future ministry. Perhaps it was something that might impact the way he served the Lord in the future. Perhaps it was something each of us battle each day as we walk on the narrow way – the flesh itself. Whatever it might have been, the thorn was unnamed so each of us might apply the spiritual lesson to our own lives.

 

Paul’s thorn was credited to demonic activity or origin. It was permitted much like God allowed Satan to attack Job; like Job the activity with Paul was limited by God. Whatever it was, Paul was concerned that he might not be able to be effective in serving God. Have any of you, knowing the secret sin(s) that plagues you, ever cried out to God to take it away from you because if others found out you might no longer be effective in what you do? If so, read the words spoken to Paul by God, “Trust Me. I know the future and your future. I will give you grace to do all you need to do.” Whatever the thorn was, it gave Paul a great deal of pain. God did give Paul the strength and grace to serve Him.

 

There is another aspect to this thorn. The rest of verse 7, quoted earlier, states the thorn might have been given to keep Paul from becoming proud over the revelations that he had received from the Lord. Paul was being shown great revelations concerning God that had not been revealed for a long time. Can you imagine the temptations that would go with that knowledge and understanding?

 

God’s provision and grace was sufficient for Paul. It is for each of us as well. Like Paul, we must become dependent on God’s grace as we endure personal trials; His grace is always able to meet every need we have. Paul became thankful for His weakness because it highlighted God’s strength (David Jeremiah). Paul developed a new attitude that recognized God made him strong in his weakness. Because God does not change, we can know, as Believers in Christ, God’s grace is with us also. No matter what we are facing, no matter what the trials may we have God’s assurance that His grace is sufficient for everything that comes our way.

 

Do not be worried about the future, about all the terrible predictions about what lies ahead. God knows the future! Nothing we face is bigger than God. The same grace He gave Paul, He gives to each of us! Trust Him!