"And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me …" (2 Cor. 12:7).
God knows the heart of a man, and He must have known that Paul was prone to be prideful. To humble Paul, and to manifest His power through Paul’s weakness, God gave him a thorn in the flesh. Some commentators, like Hodge, maintain that the thorn was a physical ailment of some kind. Others think it was a tormenting evil spirit, and still others maintain that it was the culmination of all his trials. Four points remain paramount: first, the affliction was sent by God for the purpose of maintaining Paul’s humility; second, even after continuous prayer, God refused to remove the thorn; third, its presence provided the opportunity for God’s power and glory to be manifest in Paul’s life; and fourth, it taught Paul that God’s grace was sufficient for him.
Hodge says, “these words—My grace is sufficient—should be engraved on the palm of every believer.” God’s “grace” here means His power in the Spirit, but it also means “my love.” In other words, when Paul cried out for relief, Christ simply said, “My love is enough for thee.” Those who seek deliverance from pain and suffering need to remember that it is enough that Christ loves them. He knows what is best for you, and He has determined that you undergo a certain affliction because that is what is necessary for your own sanctification and for His glory. It is best for you as an individual, and it is best for the advancement of Christ’s purposes because His strength is revealed in our weaknesses. Through Joseph’s imprisonment, God’s purpose was manifest. Through Israel’s enslavement, God’s power and authority were revealed. Through the shame and reproach of the Cross, God’s grace in redemption was realized. In your life, too, God’s grace and power will be most profoundly manifest in your weakness.
That one phrase, “My grace is sufficient,” gave Paul perfect peace, and it can give you peace as well. It did not make Paul indifferent to his sufferings, they were real and painful, but it enabled him to rejoice in them. That Christ should be glorified in Paul’s weakness was to him an end for which any human being might be honored to suffer. Like Job, who said, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him,” Paul’s faith in his loving Lord remained steadfast.
Is there some trial in your life, physical affliction, or some form of suffering? Have you asked God to remove it from your life and He has refused? If so, He could be teaching you to be dependent upon Him so that His glory can be manifested in your weakness. Ask God to give you more trust in Him and His love for you concerning this matter.
