Paul talks about having a “thorn in the flesh” in his letter to the Corinthians which has caused many to speculate over the years as to what it was. Was it demonic; was it a physical illness; was it a temptation? He doesn’t specify and says how he asked God several times for it to be taken away from him; to which God replied, “And he said unto me, my grace is sufficient for you. For my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.… For when I am weak, then I am strong.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9–10
I found it interesting that he used the term infirmity. It is defined as “a bodily ailment or weakness, especially one brought on by old age. A condition or disease producing weakness.” The Greek word asthéneia means a weakness or sickness that deprives one of enjoying or accomplishing something. It focuses on the handicaps that accompany the weakness. It also has to do with the mental state that goes along with the sickness. So it is interesting that Paul said that he would gladly glory in his sickness. The word glory means to boast – not pridefully, but to hold ones head up high — living in God-given confidence. I love how the Message puts it: “Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me,
My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.”
There are days when you might feel that the pain of illness or the frustration of a physical handicap is overwhelming. On days like these, I grab on to the promise that his grace is enough, and that when I am weak, He will be my strength. I found this handwritten on a piece of paper in Dad’s Bible: “The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will prepare him a dwelling place. My father is God and I will exalt him.” – Exodus 15:2