And he said unto me, “My grace is sufficient for thee, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”

II Corinthians 12:9a KJV

The crick in my neck started after I had jumped in the lake. I did not ease down by way of the ladder. As always, I took the plunge. Two days later, some ibuprofen, time on the heating pad, and gentle stretches had relieved the hurt a little, but one wrong move made me wince in pain.

Bodily aches and pains are wearisome troubles that do more than cause us physical symptoms. They can put us in a bad mood, leave us tired and frustrated, and make us wonder if we will ever feel normal again. Those who live with chronic conditions face a daily battle with a “thorn of the flesh,” as Paul wrote about in II Corinthians 12. 

While we do not know all the specifics of Paul’s suffering, whether a physical problem or some other struggle, we know he pleaded with the Lord to take away his “thorn,” which is a normal human response. However, we can certainly take heart in his testimony and in the final answer the Lord gave him in today’s verse. 

Our human struggles provide God with the opportunity to demonstrate His power and glory, but we must rely on Him for strength. For when we do so, we learn what Paul meant when he said, “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (II Cor 12:10b).

Prayer: Father, thank you for your grace. I will depend on your strength to sustain me.