Have you ever had a moment when a simple verse from Scripture seems to jump off the page and stop you in your tracks? That happened to me as I reflected on strength in weakness while reading 2 Corinthians 12:8-10:
"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."
Pleading with God: When the Answer is “No”
Paul’s honesty in this passage resonates so deeply. He wasn’t casually asking God to take away his thorn—he pleaded. Imagine the level of desperation he must have felt. Haven’t we all been there? Begging God to change a situation, to remove a trial, to ease our pain?
And yet, God’s answer was a loving “no.” Instead, He gave Paul something even better—the assurance that His grace would be enough and that His power would shine through Paul’s weakness.
When God’s “No” Has a Purpose
Have you ever wondered if God’s “no” is for a purpose? I’ve had that happen at certain times in my life. I didn’t understand why God said no, but later it became evident that it was for my good. Looking back, I can see His hand protecting me, guiding me toward something better. Yet, there have also been times when God said no, and I never received a clear answer.
It’s in those moments that I’ve had to learn to trust Him and trust the process. Trusting the process is sometimes the hardest thing to do. It requires complete faith in the things we cannot see. And yet, isn’t that the very essence of true faith? Hebrews 11:1 reminds us:
"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
This verse hangs in my kitchen as a daily reminder of the true essence of faith: trusting God, even when we can’t see the outcome.
Check out my post about “The Pain of Unanswered Prayers” for more encouragement when God decides to say no.
Finding Joy in the Midst of Trials
This wasn’t what Paul was hoping for, but it gave him the courage to press on with joy. That’s the part that really hits me. How often do we sit in self-pity, focusing on our trials instead of the God who sustains us through them? Choosing joy in the midst of struggle feels unnatural, but when we lean on God’s grace, it becomes possible.
James 1:2-4 reminds us:
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
Leaning on God’s Grace
I’ve learned, like Paul, that joy and laughter don’t magically make the difficulties disappear, but they do give me the strength to endure. When I choose to find joy, even in the hard stuff, it shifts my focus away from the trial and back to God’s goodness. And that makes all the difference.
Psalm 34:17-18 says:
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
This week, let’s take a moment to reflect on how God’s grace has been sufficient for us in our own struggles. What trials can you see His strength carrying you through? And how can you lean into His joy today?
When We Are Weak, He Is Strong
Remember, His power is perfected in our weakness. As Isaiah 40:29 reminds us:
"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."
When we are weak, He is strong. What an encouragement to carry with us into the rest of this week!
Remember, I’m always praying for you, even if I don’t know who you are!
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