Do You Feel Weak?
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassing great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9
The Apostle Paul was a man used by God in amazing ways. If anyone could boast and brag about all that he had done for Christ, Paul could. After all, this is the man who penned thirteen books in the New Testament!
God had an amazing plan for Paul. But there was something in Paul’s life that continually caused him trouble. Paul calls it “a thorn” in his flesh. No one knows exactly what the thorn was, but it was clearly an affliction that he faced every day.
Rather than using it as an excuse to turn away from God, though, Paul used the thorn in his flesh as yet another avenue to glorify God. Paul realized that the only reason he was able to do what he did was because of God’s grace and mercy and love. And Paul knew that even with the thorn, God’s plan for his life was greater than he could ever imagine.
You will go through difficult times in life. You will have problems and face tough situations. Don’t use those as excuses to turn your back on God. Instead, look for ways in which you can glorify God through them. And remember, no matter what you are facing, keep looking up.
