But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)
We do not like to admit it but each of us all have weaknesses. Whatever they might be, more often than not we try to hide those weaknesses from other people. Although as Christians we should be living for the glory of God, we are often like the Pharisees, who “loved human praise more than praise from God (John 12:43). In today’s reading, the apostle Paul continues what he discussed at the end of 2 Corinthians 11: that he will boast in his weaknesses. Why did Paul find that necessary?
Before God saved us, we were dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1). God’s laws throughout Scripture command perfect obedience to it. Even if we stumble at one aspect of God’s law we are still considered guilty of breaking all of it. Because of this we need a Savior. We are only saved by God’s grace through faith alone (Ephesians 2:8-9). However, Paul reminds us in this chapter that even after being justified by God, we are still in complete dependence on him (12:9). Although sin has no more power over us, the remnants of our old sinful nature remain with us. Additionally the New Testament teaches that we are to expect to face trials as followers of Christ (1 Peter 4:12, James 1:12, Matthew 5:10-12).
Theologians and biblical scholars are not entirely sure what is the exact identity of the “thorn in the flesh” that Paul discusses in verses 7-9. We don’t know if this “thorn” was a person, a trial, a struggle, or something else entirely. All we know is that it bothered Paul enough that he asked the Lord three times to take it away from him. But, as the following verses show, God answered no to his prayer and told Paul that his grace is sufficient. Perhaps God wanted to remind Paul and us that no matter how far we are in our walk with him (whether it has been just a few days or many years) that we are still fully dependent on his grace everyday. Apart from him we cannot bear good fruit (John 15:5-7).
We shouldn’t allow our weaknesses and the trials we face make us think that God is disappointed or has stopped loving us. Just like gold that is refined in fire, God uses trials to strengthen our faith (1 Peter 1:6-7). When we cry out to God for help, he hears and delivers us (Psalm 34:17). The Holy Spirit helps us recall the promises that we read in Scripture (John 14:26). Additionally, we can seek guidance and sound wisdom from our brothers and sisters in Christ at the local church. The Christian life is not meant to be lived alone. When we recognize that we cannot do good or live this Christian life on our own because we are weak, that is when we become strong.