“A THORN WAS GIVEN ME!”

 2 Corinthians 12:7-10                        (ESV)

“7 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.

8 THREE TIMES I PLEADED with the LORD about this, THAT IT SHOULD LEAVE ME.

9 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.

10 FOR THE SAKE OF CHRIST, then, I AM CONTENT WITH WEAKNESSES, INSULTS, HARDSHIPS, PERSECUTIONS, and CALAMITIES. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

2 Corinthians 12:9, “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”, was shared recently on my social media site, and once again it stirred me!  Admitting that we have some weaknesses can be quite uncomfortable, even HUMILIATING!  Being exposed as being weak is not something that you would expect to see on a resume, but the Apostle Paul states that he will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, SO THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST may rest upon me!  

Being married to the most giving person I know, it is more than obvious that ALMIGHTY GOD orchestrated our union.  She is patient, and I am not!  She is forgiving, and I am learning how!  She has so many great qualities that I wish I had, but one of us HAD TO BE WEAK to compliment the other one.  Of course, I’m not speaking of physical strength, I am referring to inner strength, someone who has a PROVEN track record of being there through the hard times.  GOD obviously uses my wife to be STRONG in my weaknesses, complimenting me in my many flaws!  

One of the most painful and difficult times of my life was when my younger sister was diagnosed with Stomach Cancer in 1996.  Within three months she went from a vibrant looking 33 year old woman to a lady who looked 100+ years old displaying the effects of chemotherapy and the disease that wound up claiming her PHYSICAL life 3 days after her 34th birthday. The most comforting statement I have ever heard was made by my little sister after the diagnosis.  In telling her that IF this disease was successful, she would get to see our grandmother, a lady she was named after, she stated “I want to see JESUS when I get to Heaven”!!!  Being older than her, I should have been more Spiritually mature, but I had to SHUT UP when hearing her proclamation.  

The Apostle Paul says “A THORN WAS GIVEN ME” in the flesh TO KEEP ME FROM BECOMING CONCEITED!  GOD knows when “A THORN WAS GIVEN ME” and how we are going to react to the adversity.  HE USES THE DIFFICULTIES OF OUR LIVES FOR HIS GLORY, just ask Joseph in Genesis!  Just because we can’t understand the why and how of the things we are going through is part of HIS PLAN, GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL, and WE ARE NOT!  We don’t get to KNOW everything, we HAVE to TRUST HIM!  My little sister has been celebrating in Heaven since December 26, 1996.  When “A THORN WAS GIVEN ME”, my prayer is that I will realize that GOD loves me too much to ever hurt me, and HIS PLAN always works for my good!!!