As we have been traveling quite a bit these past two months, it has been interersting to meet people that have told me that they could never do what we do, and then proceed to tell me why they would be inadequate. I have been recently studying of Paul’s “thorn in the flesh”, in Second Corinthians 12:7-10.
1. It was to keep him humble.
2. He prayed for God to remove it.
3. In our weakness, God’s grace is sufficient, and His power is evident.
4. Paul was able to glory in his weakness (feebleness, frailty), that the power of Christ may be upon him.
Because of God’s grace and strength being made perfect in Paul’s weakness, he was able to say in verse 10, “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
Do you take pleasure in your infirmities (feebleness), reproaches (insult), necessities, persecutions, and distresses? You should, for in your weakness, Christ’s strength will rest upon you, and you can, and will, become strong.
We need to remember that we must take our eyes off of our own selves, and keep our eyes upon God. He knows that we are inadequate indeed, and we must rely solely on Him in all that we do. If we do that, His power will be evident in our lives, and He alone will receive the glory due unto His name.
Don’t allow your thorn in the flesh to be a reminder of what you CAN’T do, but rather let it be a reminder of what God CAN do in you, and through you.