Paul – The man who boasted about his weakness
W/c Monday 25th November 2024
2 Corinthians 11:25-12:10
Have you ever felt like giving up?
The Apostle Paul would understand. He had a dynamic ministry preaching the Gospel far and wide – and yet it was filled with seemingly endless troubles and trials.
He was put in prison frequently, flogged severely and exposed to death many times through being beaten, whipped and stoned. He was even shipwrecked three times (spending a day and night in the open sea!)
He wrote in one of his letters about a particular issue he had, which he called a “thorn in the flesh”. This unnamed problem or illness was getting him down more than anything else. But God’s answer to Paul’s prayers was: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
When limitations, bad circumstances or any kinds of trials are getting us down, we just want God to fix them. Then we’ll feel much better. But Paul teaches us a better way: “Therefore I will boast gladly about my weaknesses, so that I can know Jesus’ power all the better.”
Boasting about weakness? Really? It’s not about delighting in our issues, but realising they are a special doorway through which we can know, depend upon and experience the love and power of God. Because, as Paul discovered, it’s worth being weak if that allows us to get to know Jesus better.