STRENGTH THROUGH WEAKNESS
As the new year dawns, resolutions abound, albeit with the trepidation that there won’t be adequate strength to come good on them. Strength is desirable but Paul talks of an unusual strength- one that comes through weakness.
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Corinthians 12:7-10)
It is hard to match the dedication and consecration of Paul. Yet, even he suffered from something adverse in his flesh (either body or soul) which either was from Satan or was used by Satan to trouble Paul. Despite his faith and his prayer, the Lord in his wisdom refrained from taking the thorn away. Instead, Paul comes away with a remarkable lesson.
The thorn took away any iota of pride that could subsist in Paul in view of his greatness before God. Pride is the greatest of sins and is the very nature of Satan, because it was pride and the resultant rebellion against God that led Satan to fall from grace. The thorn as troubling as it was, instilled within Paul an attitude of humility, which alone can pave the way for God’s grace to work within man. No man can come to Christ, remain in him or grow in him, lest he has humility within. Strength ultimately comes from God’s grace.
Paul takes that example and generalizes to state that any weakness, insult, hardship, persecution and difficulty in life becomes an opportunity for humility and for God’s grace to flow within. And so, as man wrestles with adversity and at times grudgingly deals with them, we also see the manifestation of patience, development of perseverance, and incorporation of empathy to understand others. All these makes a disciple a better and stronger person and of greater use for God to accomplish his purposes.
As we go through this new year, may we receive the best and the highest from God, yet also not get detracted by delays, difficulties and disheartenment if they come our way.
