PODCAST
God’s Grace Is Sufficient
August 1st, 2021
2 Corinthians 12:1-10
2 Corinthians 12 is the well-known “thorn in the flesh” passage from Paul that has captured much of our modern imagination. Just what was that thorn? It’s revealing what some suggest—oftentimes reading their own personal thorns into the story. Isn’t it just like Paul to continue to keep his eyes on the prize, to keep his laser-tight focus trained on the path ahead of him?
Paul says that he was given a thorn in the flesh “to keep him from becoming conceited” (v. 7). Even though he pleaded with the Lord to let this cup pass from him, that wasn’t how his prayer was answered. The answer from the Lord: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (v. 9a).
The way of the Lord is one of humility. Christ’s power in our lives is made perfect in our weakness, through our weakness. When we go through the dark valley, may we paradoxically accept and welcome it, because Christ’s strength can be made manifest in us. Paul said, “When I am weak, then I am strong” (v. 10b).
May we face our struggles and valleys because Christ’s power is at work in us to make us complete, whole, “perfect.”
Author: Michael Scarlett
