Perfected in Weakness

In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Paul says that he was given what he calls a “thorn in the flesh,” which was to keep him from exalting himself. Three times he prayed to the Lord, and the response was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness,” (v.9). Paul had been blessed with immense knowledge concerning spiritual life and the truth of God, as evidenced by all his writings in the New Testament, and the thorn in his flesh, although unpleasant to live with, was aiding his spiritual walk with God.

When you pray for God to remove a difficulty from your life, whether a physical sickness or a circumstantial struggle, and it is not removed, perhaps God is leaving it there because it is aiding your spiritual walk with Him in ways you have yet to realize. The Lord allowed Paul to suffer the thorn in his flesh so that he would not become prideful. Because of his physical struggle Paul was a more effective tool in God’s hands.

Paul responded by changing the way he thought about his physical struggle. Rather than turning against God for being so cruel and leaving him with physical pain, Paul stood with God’s decision and placed all his confidence in His wisdom and power. Paul recognized what God was trying to accomplish through this thorn in his flesh, and allowed it to happen. He allowed his view of himself to diminish by promoting the power of Christ rather than the wisdom and knowledge of Paul (v.9-10).

The Scriptures have communicated to Christians today the way God uses our physical and circumstantial ailments. In every difficult circumstance and every painful experience, two responses are available: 

1.  Respond by turning against God for allowing such difficulty to enter your life. 
2.  Respond by trusting God’s wisdom, and move closer to God through the difficulty at hand as Paul did. 

James calls difficult circumstances, “trials,” and explains that they are designed to help Christians grow in Christ (James 1:2-4). When it is difficult to understand how difficulty can aid in your spiritual walk, pray for wisdom (v.5). Actively pursue a godly mindset, view your difficulty through spiritually centered eyes, and you will find the way that God’s power can be perfected in your weakness.