Weaknesses
- Jerry Witham
- Oct 24, 2008
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Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me – to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12.7-10
Last week I could not get off my mind Paul’s condition as he was in Galatia. In fact, the reason he was in Galatia was due to some kind of ailment that he had. As I read Paul’s letters I find that he was a man who lived with problems and difficulties.
In his second letter to the Corinthians Paul mentions a thorn in the flesh. Some believe that Paul might have been struggling with such when he found himself in Galatia. Others believe he might have had malaria or even eyesight problems. Whatever the case, we see that Paul had weaknesses. According to Paul’s words to the Corinthians his weaknesses are used to achieve God’s purposes. For the Galatians it was to bring the gospel to them. His problems were used for an opportunity to preach the gospel to the Galatians for the first time. He writes to the Corinthians that his weaknesses were also present to keep him humble. Paul is a finite, feeble, frail and fragile speck on a speck in the universe. His problems seem to have reminded him of this. He counted this as something good from God. Even his good works for the Lord were not anything He did. It was the power of God in and through him producing such fruit. Paul had the Lord reveal this to him when the Lord said to him, My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. In response Paul embraced God’s all-sufficient grace daily. So much that he says I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. In doing this Paul is displaying the glory of Christ. This was what Paul was committed to whether in life, sickness or death. So much so that he says he was well content with weaknesses.
Now do not think the Apostle Paul enjoyed his illnesses and problems. He definitely did not. Why do you think he implored the Lord three times for them to go away? Of course, Paul would have rather that his problems go away, but he knew if they did not that the Lord had a great purpose for them. Paul found no good or gain in complaining about his difficulties. He trusted that the Lord knew what He was doing and was going to display His glory in and through the trials that he was facing.
Life is not easy. For some reason we think it is supposed to be and when it is not something is extremely wrong. God never promised life to be a bunch of beautiful roses. In fact, a biblical view would say life is more like the thorns on a stem of a rose. When it came to the thorns in life Paul responded in attitude and words with when I am weak, then I am strong.
May you be content with your weaknesses this week knowing that God’s grace is sufficient. May you boast about such so that the power of Jesus would be in you.
