2 Corinthians 12:09 ‘And He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you: for My strength is made perfect in weakness…’
This verse was the Lord’s answer to Paul when he asked deliverance from his ‘thorn in the flesh.’ Paul had pleaded three times for his affliction, whatever it might have been, to be removed from him. However, God did not answer by taking it away, but instead assured Paul that ‘His grace was sufficient’ to see him safely through his ordeal. Through this experience, God was teaching Paul several lessons which in the end would strengthen his faith, and bring glory to God. One lesson was that God does not always answer our prayers in the way which we expect or desire. Paul could only look at his problem from a limited human perspective, whereas God could see the ‘big picture’, and would answer accordingly. Paul wanted immediate relief from his suffering, while God wanted to do what was most beneficial for Paul in the long term. Also, God wanted to show Paul that His grace would be sufficient to carry him through this challenge, if he would learn to rely on God’s strength and not his own self-sufficiency. And God wanted reinforce Paul’s understanding that ‘all things work for good to those who love God.’ (Romans 8:28)
The end result would be that Paul, with God’s help, would not only learn to deal with this affliction, but would become a better disciple by learning to lean on the grace of God in what was a very difficult situation. As the verse says, God’s strength is made perfect in weakness. God will not impart His strength to someone who feels that his/her own strength is adequate. Like Paul, we have to realize that God only allows the things in a Christian’s life which are in some manner beneficial to them. It is not important that we understand why things happen, or what the outcome will be, but that we learn to trust God, are obedient to His will, and leave the consequences to Him. He will work all things for our good and His glory.
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