Friday, December 7, 2018: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
In this passage, Paul placed heavy emphasis on the fact that the strength of God’s people is found in their weakness and need for Him. Paul wrote of his “thorn in the flesh” to illustrate that God’s grace is enough. While he never said exactly what his specific ailment was—which has caused much debate among biblical scholars today—he wrote all that we need to know. Exactly what it was doesn’t really matter, and one can miss the point by giving too much focus to this question. Instead, our focus should be Paul’s source of comfort. In the midst of suffering, Paul grew closer to God as his reliance and dependence on Him deepened. Paul’s perceived limitation was used as the means by which he was sanctified.
God’s presence in one’s life transforms even the negative situations into occasions for praise. We can rejoice because the weaker we get, the stronger He gets. This does not mean that our circumstances immediately become easier, or that our problems will quickly resolve. However, we can find joy in these hard times because God has given us His grace and promised that it is enough.
- Where do you currently feel weak? How does this passage encourage you in that situation?
- How might your flaws be used to glorify God and let His strength be shown through you?
- Ask God to help you see imperfections and failings as opportunities to be sanctified by Him and to point others to His glory.