Rev. Harlan C. Vanden Einde is pastor of the Oakdale Park Christian Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan.
“. . . my grace is sufficient for thee; for my power is made perfect in weakness, Most gladly therefore will I glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” II Cor. 12:9
The Apostle Paul would not want us to pity him. He had a “thorn in the flesh,” as he called it, meaning, according to his own words, “a messenger of Satan to buffet me.”
But Paul does not tell us about that “thorn” in order to evoke our sympathy, nor even to make us “feel better” in knowing that others suffer too.
Sometimes we commiserate with those who suffer in like fashion as we do, but we never get beyond the point of talking about the suffering itself. Paul didn’t stop at the point of the “thorn,” but went on to speak of its purpose in his life, and the benefit he derived from it. Fact is, he brings the whole thought to a rather unique climax, in which he can say: “I take pleasure in weaknesses.”
It is not strange that Paul should say that. For God gave him the ability to see an important truth which is vital to the life of every Christian. It’s one thing to take a “hard–nosed, you-can‘t-do-anything-about-it-anyway“”attitude towards our “thorns”; but quite another to see God’s hand in them and try to understand God’s beneficial purpose for us through them. But only this latter attitude would find approval with Paul, and lead us to say: “I take pleasure in weaknesses.”
To neglect the God-given means by which we may improve upon our weaknesses or get rid of our thorns is surely not the response which God seeks from us. But when it is not God’s will to take them away, then we must look for God‘s purpose, and find comfort in the truth here expressed by Paul.
“My grace is sufficient.”
Indeed, it is in surplus!
No, not that He gives us today what we do not need until tomorrow. But tomorrow’s supply of grace will always be sufficient for tomorrow‘s need. Fact is, He is able to do “exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think” (Eph. 3:20). Should we ever doubt that His grace will be sufficient for our needs?
Besides, God’s “power is made perfect in weakness.” That strange twist of logic makes no sense to those who see no higher power than that displayed by human ingenuity. But that‘s exactly the point! Paul was not interested in pointing others to Paul, but to Paul’s God. If a person thinks that he is strong and self-sufficient, God can‘t use him. There is a real self-emptying that must first take place in us, so that we and others may know that all is of grace, and that all glory belongs to God. The weakness of the human instrument always magnifies the divine power of God. And the greater the servant’s weakness, the more clear is the power of the Master’s all-sufficient grace. For He turns our weakness into strength by His power working through us.
God does great things through broken vessels. How clearly that is evidenced in Paul’s life. And how important that we remember that too, for there are times when we think that God cannot use us with all our weaknesses. When asked to do something, we often say: “I’m not qualified, I’m incapable, I can‘t speak well, I can’t organize my thoughts.” And we may even ride on this as excuses for not doing the things we should be doing.
In that situation, God says to us in effect: “Listen, my child. I made you, and I saved you by giving my own Son for you. I know about your weaknesses; in fact, I know them better than you do. But I am able to use you that way, just as you are. Would I have called you to be my child if I didn‘t love you? And if I love you, don’t you think I can supply you with whatever you need so that even weaknesses will produce victories? What I ask of you is a willingness to be a servant, an instrument that I may use.” Believing that, Paul endured his thorn in the flesh, so that the power of God might shine through him.
And for the same reason Paul would say: “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Who, in their right mind, ever heard of glorying in their weaknesses? Those who have the “right mind” indeed, that is, those who have the mind of Christ! Those who have come to see God as the central focus of their life. Those who have found forgiveness through the blood of Christ, and who now have as their purpose, in answer to their Creator’s design for them, the glory of God. Those whose desire it is to have their will in harmony with God’s.
This means more than just submitting to the Lord‘s will. For Paul, it meant glorying in his infirmity so that the power of Christ may rest upon him. In effect, I hear Paul saying: I rejoice in my weaknesses, because it makes me more able to cling to Thee, Lord. And when I cling to Thee, I am stronger and able to overcome evil. Every grief or trial or hardship. limitation or weakness or infirmity—in reality all of that deepens my sense of dependence upon Thee, and is therefore a blessing and not a curse.
No, Paul sought no one’s pity. Nor would he admonish us to pity ourselves in the midst of our weaknesses and infirmities. But rather he would point us to this glorious truth he knew so well: “My grace is sufficient for thee; for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Power in weakness—God’s power shining through us!