Take Away the Pain

2 Corinthians 12:8-9 ESV
“Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, (Paul’s thorn in the flesh) that it should leave me… My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”

Paul had endured unbelievable hardships to keep moving forward for Christ Jesus. Now this thorn in the flesh plagued him. But Paul realized what this was all about.

2 Corinthians 12:7 ESV, Paul says the thorn “was given him in the flesh, to keep him from becoming conceited.” Or put simply, this thorn was to keep Paul humble about some revelations that were given to him from the Lord.

Paul discovered that he could live with this thorn because of the Lord’s grace, knowing that when he became weak in flesh or Spirit, the Lord was working strong in his life.

Paul wrote most of the new Testament, started 39 churches all over Asia minor and is considered by most to be one of the greatest leaders of the New Testament church. For you and I, a thorn in the flesh could be a person that is a tormentor to us, or the threat of losing something because of depleted finances. Even an illness or anything that is more than we can handle in our own mind.

What we are going through is real and it may be excruciating. Learn to lean on Jesus, let His grace be sufficient for all we are going through.

Paul finished his encounter with, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” In our weaknesses, He becomes our strength and stronghold, an ever present help in need.

Prayer:
Lord, sometimes the things I go through don’t make any sense. But even when I don’t understand things I have to believe You are working all things for my good! In my weaknesses, You are my strength.