"Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." {II Corinthians 12:7b-10}
Last Sunday I heard an amazing sermon upon these several verses. I could not pass up the opportunity to share a bit of my notes and thoughts in response to the feelings that surfaced after hearing a great message.
We don't know the specifics of this thorn, this 'thing', Paul is dealing with. Many speculations and research has been done upon this particular topic, but reguardless of specifics, there was a 'thing' that Paul was dealing with. It was a 'thing' that tormented Paul, it was like a punch to the gut.
Three times Paul pleaded for the Lord to take away this 'thing'. But the Lord responded, "My grace us sufficent for you, for my power is made PERFECT in weakness.' The Greek word for perfect is not so much the aspect of 'perfectness' but the ability God has to bring completion, to blow us away on what He can do through our 'thing'. Everybody has a 'thing'.
Therefore, Paul's only response is to boast all the more gladly about his weakness, the insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties life brings. Paul's only response is to choose JOY.
Like stated before, we all have a 'thing'. Resilient people see their 'something' as a gift. Sometimes it takes us awhile to be able to see our difficulties, struggles, illnesses, and weaknesses as gifts.
This past Sunday I went to a different venue within our church. I ended up sitting with some family friends and as I sat down our Pastor began to share the blessings of a family who's son had recently been considered in remission from a bonemarrow transplant. This family happened to be one I had followed very closely as their daughter had been in my mom's kindergarten class. As I went over to share my congrats with them, I made eye contact with the mom the flood gates of tears opened up as we hugged.
I have a 'thing'. My thing came into my life in 2002. It has lingered on through different side effects and reminders I come in contact with on a daily basis. But my thing is a blessing. Because on a Sunday like this past, I can relate to the joy this family is feeling. I can relate the struggles and harships they have gone through to get to this joyful day. My thing has allowed me to be molded, shaped into the woman God has had me become. I have been able to choose joy, gain much wisdom, and see this world in a new light- because of my 'thing'.
Be thankful for your 'thing'. You will never know how perfectly God will use it in your life.
Blessings.
