2 Corinthians 12:1-9: a reflection

1It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast, but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2I know a man in Christ who was caught up into the third heaven fourteen years ago—whether in the body, I don’t know, or whether out of the body, I don’t know; God knows. 3I know such a man (whether in the body, or outside of the body, I don’t know; God knows), 4how he was caught up into Paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5On behalf of such a one I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in my weaknesses. 6For if I would desire to boast, I will not be foolish; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, so that no man may think more of me than that which he sees in me or hears from me. 7By reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelations, that I should not be exalted excessively, a thorn in the flesh was given to me: a messenger of Satan to torment me, that I should not be exalted excessively. 8Concerning this thing, I begged the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.

Paul, given a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble, pleads with the Lord three times to take it away; but the Lord's answer is not to remove it, but to give something better: My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. The thorn remained, but with it came grace sufficient to bear it, and the promise that God's power would be made perfect precisely in Paul's weakness. God did not always remove the thorn; but he gave grace enough, and showed that his power works most fully not where we are strong but where we are weak. Paul learned to glory in his weakness, that the power of Christ might rest on him.

Notice God's answer to Paul's plea: not the removal of the thorn, but sufficient grace and power perfected in weakness. Paul wanted the thorn gone; but God's answer was better than mere removal: grace sufficient to bear it, and power made perfect in weakness. God did not always take away the difficulty, but he gave grace enough for it, and revealed that his power is displayed most fully in our weakness, not our strength. The thorn that Paul wanted removed became the very place where God's power rested on him. God's grace was sufficient; his power was perfected in the weakness Paul would have preferred to be rid of. The weakness became the place of grace.

That is worth resting in, for God's grace is sufficient for us in our weakness, and his power is made perfect there. We often plead with God to remove our thorns, our weaknesses, our difficulties, and are troubled when he does not; but God's answer to Paul was that his grace is sufficient, and his power made perfect in weakness. God's grace is enough to bear what he does not remove, and his power works most fully in our weakness. When God does not remove your thorn, do not despair; his grace is sufficient for you, and his power is made perfect in your weakness. Rest in the sufficiency of God's grace in your weakness, and trust that his power is made perfect there, even when he does not remove your thorn, as the Lord told Paul, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness; for God's grace is enough to bear what he does not take away, and his power is displayed most fully not in our strength but in the weakness where his grace rests upon us.

Lord, Paul, given a thorn in the flesh to keep him humble, pleads with you three times to take it away; but your answer is not to remove it, but to give something better: my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. The thorn remained, but with it came grace sufficient to bear it, and the promise that your power would be made perfect precisely in Paul's weakness. You did not always remove the thorn; but you gave grace enough. Show me your answer to Paul's plea: not the removal of the thorn, but sufficient grace and power perfected in weakness. Paul wanted the thorn gone; but your answer was better than mere removal: grace sufficient to bear it, and power made perfect in weakness. You did not always take away the difficulty, but you gave grace enough, and revealed that your power is displayed most fully in our weakness, not our strength. The thorn Paul wanted removed became the very place where your power rested on him. Let me rest in that, for your grace is sufficient for me in my weakness, and your power is made perfect there. I often plead with you to remove my thorns, my weaknesses, my difficulties, and am troubled when you do not; but your answer to Paul was that your grace is sufficient. Your grace is enough to bear what you do not remove. When you do not remove my thorn, keep me from despairing; your grace is sufficient for me, Lord, and your power is made perfect in my weakness. Help me rest in the sufficiency of your grace and trust that your power is made perfect in my weakness, as you told Paul, my grace is sufficient for you.