At our E3 meeting last night we discussed 2 Corinthians 12:1-10.  This is an awesome section of scripture that gives Christians today an opportunity to stop and reflect on where is their heart and frame of mind.  I am sure that you are familiar with this scripture but let me refresh your memory.  This is where Paul is telling us about the thorn in his flesh.  He tells us how he has prayed three times for the Lord to remove this thorn because of it’s obvious discomfort to Paul.  And we know that it was that because he states in verse 8 that he “pleaded with the Lord to take it away”.  There is not a reason to plead with someone unless your in great discomfort or distress.  So we know that this is something that was affecting Paul daily during his ministry.  But the point of this is not Paul’s pleading but the Lord’s refusal to remove this thorn.  And more importantly the Lord’s response to his pleadings.  But before we discuss that lets discuss this thorn in greater detail.

And when I say the thorn I am not actually referring to the thorn itself and to the debate on whether it was a physical or spiritual ailment.  But rather the “thing” in our life that we constantly struggle with and constantly dealing with.  The thing that has been prayed for and prayed for and for whatever reason God has left it or allowed that particular season to continue.  When this occurs we as Christians must maintain the proper perspective.  This is not a matter persay of the thorn but of the heart.  We must understand that God is using this circumstance or ailment for a possibility of several reasons, 1) He is trying to grow us or teach us some particular lesson that will make us a better tool and in the end glorify Him,  2) He is using the situation to give us an opportunity to share the testimony of our circumstance to ultimately give Him glory.

However, with all of that being said, the real perspective changer was the Lord’s direct response to Paul’s  prayer. In verse 9 the Lord responds with this:

9But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” …

Christ says that His grace is enough.  Through all circumstances the fact that we have grace on our lives is enough for us to rejoice and survive.  Is that where your heart is?  Could you respond like Paul later in that same verse…

“…Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

Are you there yet?

God Bless ~ Tyler