UNIQUELY TOUCHED BY GOD – 2 Corinthians 12:7-13
By Glenda Ward
McDowell County
God transforms us as we allow Him to meet us at our place of weakness. We were never created to be self-sufficient. Our weakness can be a tremendous source of strength when we allow God to meet us powerfully in humility. God values those who acknowledge their weakness in everyday life. Transformation comes when we make room for the Holy Spirit to fill us and empower us, not because we deserve God’s help, but because He loves us.
Paul understood the elements of the Law and practiced them with great interest. Yet when he came face-to-face with Jesus Christ, his life changed forever. No longer did he view the world through merely human eyes. God gave him spiritual insight that far surpassed anything he had known. Can you relate?
Paul was receiving an abundance of divine supernatural facts on things relating to human existence in this world. The Lord was revealing astounding truth to him. Paul understood the reason for adversity …adversity being a very difficult or unfavorable situation, misfortune, or hardship; circumstances or situations that work against you. The adversity in Paul’s life was to keep him humble. He could not afford to become prideful and when he thought he had reason for fleshly confidence, God would remind him how dependent he truly was upon God The Father for everything in his life.
In chapter 12 in 2 Corinthians, we find a bountiful lesson. Verse 7, “And lest I should be exalted above measure above the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.” It is unknown what Paul’s “thorn in the flesh” was but it delivered chronic and debilitating circumstances. At times this thorn was a hindrance to his ministry. God allowed Paul to be affected repeatedly by many severe trials. Paul prayed three times to the Lord for healing and that this thorn might depart from him, but that was not in God’s plan for him and Paul did not receive it. Paul did, however, receive things far greater; because he received greater grace from God, a stronger character, humility, and an ability to empathize with others. It also benefited those around him, as they saw God at work in his life. The Lord said, “…My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness…” (2 Corinthian 12:9) Through times of weakness, the apostle Paul learned a new and unexpected principle: Weakness is strength. When we are strong in abilities or resources, we are tempted to do the work on our own, and that can lead to pride. When we are weak and look to God allowing Him to fill us with His power, as happened with Paul, we become stronger than we could ever be on our own.
The thorn was given to Paul in the flesh he calls a “messenger of Satan”. Satan is not the only one at work here. God is at work. This thorn is not just the work of Satan to destroy. It is the work of God to Save. Paul described the revelations of God’s glory he had been given – “…caught up into paradise and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” (2 Corinthians 12:4). The Lord was revealing astounding truth to him, and he could not afford to become prideful. It would have been easy for him to think that he was rising above the ordinary hardships and troubles of earthly life because he had been given such a privilege. Paul describes the purpose of the thorn in his flesh to prevent pride. Paul’s revelations in paradise made him vulnerable to pride and self-exaltation. Just as weakness carries a great potential for strength, pride carries an equally great potential for defeat. Satan’s whole design is to produce pride not prevent it. Pride separates us from God by tempting us to be strong in our strength and not in the strength of the Holy Spirit through Christ Jesus. So, God uses the hostile intentions of Satan for Paul’s holiness. God permits Satan to afflict His righteous servants, but He turns the affliction for His good purposes. The source of our weaknesses may sometimes be Satan and his destructiveness, but always our weaknesses are designed by God for our good. God is in control of Satan. Satan does nothing to God’s children that God does not allow with skill and love for our good. God’s design is to make us a showcase for Jesus’s power; by giving us the strength to endure and even rejoice in our adversities. The deepest need we have in our weaknesses and adversities is the well-grounded confidence that what is happening to us is part of the greatest purpose of God – His glorification of grace and power – the grace and power that nailed Jesus Christ to the cross and kept Him there until His work of love on earth was done. This is what God is building into our lives.
There is true value in weakness because it helps us view our lives under the light of God’s mercy. Strength that withstands the stress and blows of this life comes from one Source, the eternal indwelling presence of God’s gift, the Holy Spirit within the life of every believer. When we accept our weaknesses and the fact that we cannot handle them on our own, God goes to work. He sends us encouragement and a sense of creativity, helping us to try new avenues that lead to hope and fresh beginnings. Nothing will ever bring more complete healing to your heart and soul than knowing the unconditional love of God. It is at the point of our greatest weakness that God comes to us speaking Words of Hope and Encouragement. Only God can calm the storm that is battling your life. God permits trials to come into our life to strengthen us and fit us for His service, (got that, Fit us for His service?). God meets us in our weakness and God values those who acknowledge their weakness in humility. We are to declare our weakness to God and receive the power of His presence through the Holy Spirit. Our task is to pray, to believe, and to trust. When we pray for healing, we must trust our bodies to God’s care. Nothing separates us from God’s love and our Spiritual condition is always more important than our physical condition. In admitting our weaknesses, we are affirming God’s strength!
God’s power and strength are made perfect in us through our weakness. Drive pride from your character, and embrace the hardships and struggles that God allows into your life. If God calls you to do something trust Him to equip you for it. God uses the weak and broken people because they are capable. He uses them when they make themselves available to Him! Whatever your weakness looks like – allow yourself to grieve and experience the painful emotions necessary to heal, but don’t underestimate the power of acceptance in God. When we accept our hurt and brokenness, we can go to God with it …accepting God’s strength. Stop trying to attain perfection in this life. Look to God as your strength. Allow His love, power, and help to be your source. Live in Light of the TRUTH that is His strength both able and available to you. Find peace founded on the limitless grace and power of our Heavenly Father. As Paul found out, the Lord’s loving kindness is more than sufficient to help us when we are at our weakest.
Meditate on God’s heart to meet you in your weakness.
“And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2Corinthians 12:9)
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Glenda Ward is a member of Grand View Baptist Church in McDowell County and is a Christian writer/author of “Something to Think About” – weekly Christian Articles. She finds purpose and joy in writing Church Programs & Bulletins, VBS Material, Christmas and Easter Programs, Memorials, and now expanding to include weekly articles to other churches, as well as writings to include Christian-based articles on Relationships in Marriage; all material based on the KJV of the Bible. From personal experience, I hope to set an example of how to serve a risen Savior and live by the Holy Spirit with joy. My goal is to help people partake of the better option in life to experience the transforming power that is available in Christ Jesus today. You can read more, good, Christian news from Glenda HERE.
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