2 Corinthians 12:7b-10
Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so I would not exalt myself. 8 Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me. 9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. 10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
What do we do when God says "No." or "Not the way you want."?
- In verse 7, we see that trials (or "thorns") are often not accidental, but intentional.
- We also see that somehow God is "sovereign" even over what Satan tries to do in the lives of God's children.
- Note: This is especially evident in the events surrounding Jesus' death on the Cross. The crucifixion was unjust, evil, and involved terrible suffering by God's Son. However, God the Father used it for amazing good -- our salvation and His glory in and through all things.
- Beth's perspective on her genetic disorder were shaped by two foundational passages of Scripture:
- When you believe in God's love and trust in His sovereignty, you can plead with Him openly and honestly in prayer (see v. 8).
- But we must understand that God may answer the prayer differently than we envision (v. 9a)
- God unveils that His grace is sufficient (even for daily life and not just eternal life) and that His power is actually displayed better through weaknesses.
- Beth shared the frustration of unanswered prayer, the timeliness of her illness coming right after becoming a mom
- She was able to land in a firm place of faith to fight through the illness and doubts through the perspective that was shaped by Scripture, her parents, and understanding God's "bigness" through a massive thunder storm she witnessed in Montana when she was 17.
- When told she might die from lung toxicity, Beth felt the "peace" that passes all understanding.
- Paul, begins to transition from pleading about his weaknesses to boasting in them. This is how God platforms His power and grace (v. 9b)
- This perspective is so counter-cultural. We want to glorify God when we are strong.
- However, God often wants to be strong and sufficient when we are weak.
- We can understand and experience God's sufficiency in several ways:
- Through God's Word that we must expose ourselves to and hide in our hearts.
- Through God's people -- the importance of not just believing in God but belonging to a church family.
- Through God's Names -- we know God and experience His character through His Names:
- El Roi: The God Who sees -- God sees every tear and looks with compassion
- Immanuel: God with us -- Jesus knew suffering and knows how we feel
- Jehovah Sammah: the Lord is ever-present -- He is always with us
- Jehovah Jireh: the Lord will provide
- El Shaddai: God all-sufficient
- Jehovah Nissi: the Lord my banner
- Jehovah Shalom: the Lord our peace
- Jehovah Rapha: The God who heals
- Jehovah M'Kaddesh: The Lord who sanctifies
- El Yeshua: God is my salvation
- "The greatest miracle is my salvation" {Beth}
- "God will put more on us than we can handle so we can know Him and that He can handle it." {Beth}
- Even though Beth's "thorn" of fanconi anemia is not gone completely, she prays that she can live the rest of her life knowing what she knows now about God.
- She is thankful for what she went through because of how she now knows God. When we are weak, He is strong!
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