2 Corinthians 12:7-10 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Ever notice how one ingredient can make or break the taste of a dish? Some ingredients are able to be supplemented with something else. Then there are some ingredients that are absolutely necessary in order to make something taste good. Life is the same way. We can live without some things, but there is one ingredient that is absolutely necessary. Matter of fact this ingredient can make anything taste good. This ingredient is called grace.
Notice in the scripture that Paul was given a thorn. It was called a messenger of Satan and its job was to constantly beat him. This thorn in Paul’s flesh was something he wanted removed. He begged God three times to remove it, but it was never removed. Rather than remove the pain, God added an ingredient that would change everything. God told Paul He had enough grace to make His strength perfect during the moments of weakness. It was through God’s grace that Paul quit complaining about the pain and started taking pleasure in the pain.
One ingredient was applied, and it changed the way everything felt. Throughout our lives God may not change our situations, but He will give us the grace to not only accept the situation but also to take pleasure in them. Ever notice that it is through the pains of life that we able to discover the depths of God’s grace? Grace has the ability to get our eyes off the pain and placed on the Lord. The thorn is there to humble us. God’s grace is the channel through which His strength flows. God’s grace has the ability to prove himself the strongest when we are the weakest.
We may be at our weakest moments, but it is through God’s grace that we discover our greatest strengths come when we feel the weakest. Take pleasure in the painful thorns of life because God will prove himself strong during our times of greatest weakness.