2 Corinthians 12:7-9

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave 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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2^nd Corinthians 12:7-9

Ever since chapter 10, Paul has been defending his ministry to the Corinthian Christians. We can get a window into the structure of the early Church by witnessing its problems. The question of authenticity was one that plagued the early churches. Who was to be trusted? With so many preachers rotating through the early congregations, who was to be believed? These believers sought whole-heartedly to follow Jesus but often wavered in their support of Paul or other genuine apostles (genuine in that they followed the early church’s system for authority: that they had gotten their teachings from Christ Himself). In light of the somewhat prideful and unscrupulous resumes of certain missionaries, Paul presents his own credentials all the while noting tangentially that he has no need to do so. The whole of chapter 11 is a summary of all that Paul has suffered in His service to Christ. We will touch on this in a later portion of Scripture but suffice to say that Paul’s suffering and trials served as the evidence of the purity of his teaching.

Paul continues in the first portion of chapter 12 relating the story of an unknown believer (most scholars think it was Paul himself) who witnesses to the glories of heaven. The images witnessed must have been too wondrous to describe to others (similar to the Transfiguration) and thus Paul’s knowledge of them had to remain his alone.

This brings us to what is one of the larger themes in the entire letter of 2^nd Corinthians: the concept that God’s power is made most evident in light of man’s weakness. One can trace this theme throughout Scripture back to the nation of Israel, whose failures served to highlight the justice and faithfulness of their God and indeed back to the Garden where the Lord laid out the foundations of a redemptive path in light of Adam’s first and greatest weakness.

The Reason for Trials

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited.

Throughout the last 2000 years many have conjectured what Paul’s ‘thorn’ was. Some popular theories are chronic eye problems, malaria, migraines, epilepsy, a speech impediment, or even another person. Though we cannot know for sure to what Paul was referring, we can know for sure why it was given. Paul states that it was given so that he didn’t become conceited.

I find it interesting that Paul takes a step back and analyzes the reason behind the affliction. In our own lives we don’t tend to do this. When some trial enters our life we rarely look at the spiritual causes behind it. Rather, we spend our efforts complaining about or fighting against it.

Scripture maintains that trials often have a reason they are given to us. Note that I said ‘given’, as Paul does. Satan does not operate free from the sovereign will of the Father. Even in his rebellion he is limited in his scope. We see this in his interaction in Job’s life and we see it again here as it is said that Paul was given a messenger of Satan. In this we see that even trials flow from the will of our good Father who desires our sanctification.

In observing Scripture we can see several reasons that we are given trials:

1.       To humble us. This is the reason Paul describes here. We are so apt to attribute great skills and knowledge to ourselves that sometimes the Lord has to send affliction to bring our Spirit’s to a place of humility.

2.       To discipline. In a similar way, sometimes the Lord has to discipline his children to ensure that they continue to seek to good, righteous path and bring glory and honor to the Father. We can see this over and over in the history of the nation of Israel who was constantly rebelling and repenting. The Assyrian and Babylonian captivities are the clearest witness to this. Speaking to this, the writer of Hebrews states: It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? … For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Though it may be hard to hear, sometimes we suffer affliction and trial as a gentle (or sometimes not so gentle) rebuke to bring our erring hearts back to God.

3.       To perfect us. Sometimes the affliction and trials serve to perfect us in Christ’s image. James writes: Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Though paradoxical, sometimes it is in fact the trials and obstacles we encounter that cause us to draw nearer to the Lord and to more closely abide in Him, obeying more and more the Law of Love, and relying ever more upon His Spirit for our strength.

Trials Aren’t Easy

Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.

This might seem obvious, but Paul’s narrative illustrates what we often feel: afflictions aren’t easy. As obvious as this might seem, often our perceived notion of what a ‘good Christian’ is causes us to downplay the seriousness and pain of affliction and trial. There is a reality of pain. There is a reality to being conflicted. Even Paul admits to it here. He didn’t want whatever this ‘thorn’ was. He prayed that it would go away. This should serve to validate our pain. It doesn’t make excuses for further sinful action, but it goes a long way towards breaking down the perception that a mature believer doesn’t suffer affliction or that their effects are somehow muted. Trials are, I believe, a sign of a mature believer rather than a signal of immaturity.

Power in Weakness

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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

We get now to the meat of Paul’s illustration, and indeed for much of the letter to the Corinthians. After taking his concerns and pains to the Lord in prayer Paul receives a response. We do not know how Paul received this, whether it was an audible voice or the voice of the Spirit speaking in his heart, but we do know that the Lord responded.

First, the Lord responds: My grace is sufficient for you. Now this wasn’t the response Paul was likely seeking. Instead of addressing Paul’s specific concern, the Lord responds in broader strokes. The Lord maintains that His grace (unmerited favor) is sufficient in ALL situations. There is no situation in which the grace of God will be found lacking. There is no struggle in which the grace of God is NOT able to redeem. No matter the sin; no matter the trial; no matter the affliction, the grace of God is sufficient for us. Healing may come. Our prayers may be answered. We may see restoration. Beyond all that though, the grace of God is sufficient for us. It is sufficient if the sickness remains. It is sufficient if oppression continues. It is sufficient even if we still struggle (and we will) to live purely for Christ. This grace is sufficient both on a sacrificial and legal level, but (I believe) this verse speaks more towards the unfailing comfort and spirit of perseverance it brings to our soul.

Secondly, the Lord gives a reason as to who His grace is sufficient for us, namely: for my power is made perfect in weakness. This anecdote comes in the context of accusations from the Corinthians (or at least the offending preachers) that Paul was weak. To this Paul responds with the confidence that it is in weakness that God’s power is made and displayed most fully. Paul served the risen God. He served with passion and confidence, but he was a man just like any of us. He served the Lord with flaws, with biases, with his own foolish moments. We all have born the mark of weakness from the very first moments in the Garden. We are weak both in body (easily sickened, broken, and quickly fading) and in spirit (we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.) We can all attest to the myriad of ways in which we exhibit the signs of weakness.

Yet

Yet the Lord asserts that is in our weakness of body and soul that His power is “made perfect.” This not to say that the Lord needs our weakness to properly demonstrate His character but rather that our innate weakness as human beings serves as the perfect backdrop to illustrate the power and might of God the Father. There is no better contrast. If the Lord can work through a flawed man such as Paul or a flawed man or woman such as you or I, then He is truly able to do anything. This is not to excuse sin. By no means. The grace of God should draw us ever closer to Christ and increase our love of the Lord which will lead to obedience to His commandments. This is why Paul can state (in v10): For when I am weak, then I am strong. It is the power of Christ in us that gives us the strength to do anything. We rely completely upon it. When we come up against those who would point to our own sicknesses, biases, or sinful history, we can and should confidently agree (not from self-righteousness) but in that if the Lord is able to do anything through us, then He is able to do anything through anybody.

I don’t know where you struggle. I don’t know where I will struggle tomorrow. I don’t know when health will fail me. I don’t know when my faltering spirit might give in to temptation. I don’t know when doubt will cast shade upon the walls of my heart and mind. In that moment, you and I can stand firm against the shadow; against the accuser (human, psychological, or heavenly) and state that God’s grace is sufficient for me. Let it echo through halls of our mind: God’s grace is sufficient for me.