I have read and heard the verses in 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 many times. They are all about the Apostle Paul’s thorn in his side, his pleading with God to remove it, how and why God left it. And so, the famous bible verse became… “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness (vs. 9).” For in our weaknesses, God is strong. But, I never before paid much attention to chapter 11, where Paul recounts all of his suffering. Like this man endured a LOT for God and His Kingdom. I am confident that he penned all of this, not for us to have pity on him, but so we may see God’s power at work. Paul is a witness to God, for God! And although Paul accomplished so much for the Kingdom, he never once boasted about it. He gave God all the glory, over and over again. What I found very intriguing in my reading were these verses:
–though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 2 Corinthians 12:6-7
We don’t know for sure what the thorn was. But, what we do know is God allowed Satan to put it there. He did this to keep Paul humble. He did this so that Paul would only boast in his weakness. So that the people of the day, and even us today, we wouldn’t magnify Paul, but instead Paul would point us to Jesus. So that God’s strength may not only be known, but experienced.
We have all tried to do it on our own. Me? Oh I am stubbornly independent and have this worldly idea that I can do it by myself. That I am strong, that I can prove to myself that I can do it. Whether it is being financially independent, finding a job, taking care of my car, or moving across the country to an island. BUT, the truth is, I can’t. And I don’t want to. I don’t want to do it on my own power. It’s exhausting. And what Paul is showing us in 2 Corinthians is that we are better off in our surrendered weakness. Because it is there where God meets us, and there where His power can rest on us, and carry us. That is truly the life I want to live. The way God designed us to live, where His power is made perfect in our weaknesses. This shows up differently for everyone and in every season. So often, I think that God’s power shows up not even in us, but in the people around us, in God’s provision. One example from my own life is when I moved to Hawaii and had no idea where I was going to live, but then I got connected with my roommate Sara and the rest is history. Looking back, if I didn’t have her or my church community, I never would have lasted. God worked His power, His love and grace, through them, to carry me…every step of the way.
People often say to me, “Oh you are so brave to have done that.” Or, “You are so strong for moving to Maui and then staying even after the fire.” Or “I don’t know how you are always so calm.” And my response is always the same, Jesus. Because that is the truth. I really am weak. I am not naturally brave, but I walk in the confidence of God. My strength, my resilience, my joy, my peace…it is all from Him! It is a daily devotion to sit with Him, dwell in His presence, and surrender my life to Him.
I have tried to do things on my own, we all do, but when we can let go, when we can walk confidently in our weaknesses so that His power may be made perfect, we will always find that His way is better. I think in this world we live in, in this Christmas season even, we have to ask ourselves the hard questions. We have to really sit and decide how we want our lives to look. Ultimately, God leaves it up to us. It is this paradoxical reality: we are predestined, yet have free will. The mystery of God. And so, I leave myself, and you with what Paul said to the Corinthians and to us today:
Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves, or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? Unless indeed you fail to meet the test. 2 Corinthians 13:5
Love and blessings,
Radical Road 