March 22 | 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should distance itself from me, but He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will gladly boast all the more in my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me. For this reason, I am content in weakness, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am able.” (2 Corinthians 12:9–10)

Have you ever prayed repeatedly that God would do something for you? Heal you, protect you, provide for you? I’ve been praying for nine years now that God would heal me of my paralysis. I believe He will do it. I am waiting on Him, on His perfect timing.

Before Paul talks about God’s sufficient grace, he talks about his thorn in the flesh that has been bothering him. Three times he prayed for God to remove it. We don’t really know what the thorn in the flesh was. Because of the rest of Paul’s letter to the Galatians, I believe it was a physical ailment.

When God didn’t remove it for whatever His reason, He told Paul He had sufficient grace to lavish upon him. Between Paul’s suffering and God’s more than sufficient grace was a weakness Paul was not fond of having.

Do you feel weak? Do you feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders, pushing down on you and crushing you? In your weakness, Jesus is strong for you. He ministers through you out of your weakness His strengths.

Action Step: Rely on Jesus in your weakness, sickness, and defeat. He shows Himself strong in you when you let go and give Him the opportunity to work through you.

Precious Jesus, I am leaving on you today. I feel weak, but I know You are strong. Give me Your strength to face my trials and suffering today. I know You are with me. I rest in Your presence.