The Thorn...

The Lord Be With You Today! 2 Corinthians 12:8-9a Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. (Paul refers to some “thorn in his flesh,” details of which we are not given; the Amplified translation makes it even clearer that Paul called on the Lord, beseeched Him, and begged Him to free him of this affliction; even such a man of God as Paul did not always receive the answers to prayer that he desired) But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." the Amplified translation puts it this way: “My grace, My favor and loving kindness and mercy, is enough for you, sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully, for My strength and power are made perfect, fulfilled and completed and show themselves most effective, in your weakness.” (rather than granting Paul’s request to remove the affliction, the Lord had a far greater purpose to fulfill, to show Paul how his weakness is a powerful, God-appointed way for him to depend on Christ’s strength; perhaps, just perhaps, the very thing that we desperately think needs to be removed from our lives is the very thing that the Lord tenderly and lovingly uses to help us lean on Him and trust Him more fully and completely; no matter what trial or hardship we are facing today, it pales in comparison to the power of Christ Who works in us to bring about His victory through the hardship) May the Lord richly bless you this day! In Christ’s love, Submitted by: Sally Shields