The Thorn of Humility?

 

Daily Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:1 – 10

"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

                                                                                         II Corinthians 12:9

Paul speaks of his thorn in his flesh, “the messenger (gr. angelos) of Satan to buffet me”.  This spiritual assault made clear to Paul his weakness.  Due to the suffering and difficulty this caused Paul in his life, he repeatedly asked God to remove it. Most of us would do the exact same thing if we found ourselves in a similar situation.  Instead of granting Paul’s request, God revealed to him that He had given Paul something greater: His sustaining grace. Through His grace, Paul learned that God’s power is perfected in weakness. This is the paradox of humility.

In our moments of weakness, when we are keenly aware of our limitations, we are invited to lean fully on God’s strength. Humility is not about hiding our weaknesses but about surrendering them to God, knowing that He can use them for His glory. When we stop trying to rely on our own strength and allow Christ to work through our brokenness, His power is most evident.

We often resist humility because we fear being seen as weak, but Paul’s experience shows that embracing humility allows God’s grace to flow through us more freely. It’s in surrender that we find true strength.  What "thorns" in your life could be opportunities for God’s strength to be displayed?  How can you trust God’s grace more in your areas of weakness?