Perhaps the most profound of promises given in Scripture, the words of our Lord as spoken to Paul reveal a lot about God and a lot about Paul. Jesus declared his power as perfect when demonstrated through the weaknesses of believers.

We don't know the exact of Paul's thorn in the flesh, but we know God used Paul's problem to prove His power. We also know Paul must took this matter to God in prayer and asked for healing, but he didn't get that which for he asked - at least, not on the surface anyway. Paul's response to the Lord's promise is insightful as well.

Paul delighted in his own weakness because through it, he experienced God's power. He said, "It's when I'm powerless that God gives me His strength. It's when I am unable to do something that God gives me His ability. Therefore, I won't complain when the going gets rough."

Paul's words, while very comforting are also very convicting. That's because the times of hardship that prompted Paul to delight in God is the time I most often complain and ask God for deliverance. This is not to say we shouldn't pray for deliverance, because Paul did that very thing. But if difficulty is how our character is strengthened, shouldn't we learn to embrace it rather than consider it an intrusion?

Learning God's sufficiency demands a reason. If you never had a reason to need God's help, how often would you approach him to ask for it? We don't look for trouble in order to learn how to deal with it. But neither should we run from it, but instead run to God and trust the work He's doing in us.

1 Developed from Read theBible Thru ( Is. 8:1-9:21 2 Co. 12:1-10 Ps. 55:1-23 Pr. 23:4-5 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

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