“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
The Refining
Paul asked three times for his thorn in the flesh to be removed, whatever it specifically was, and three times the answer was no. This is worth sitting with before rushing to the comforting part of the verse. Sometimes the fire simply does not lift, no matter how sincerely and repeatedly you ask, and that is not a sign your prayer failed.
What Paul receives instead of removal is a different kind of answer: sufficient grace, and a strength that is made perfect, not despite weakness, but specifically in it. This is a strange economy. God’s power does not wait for you to become strong enough to receive it. It is most visible precisely where your own strength has run out.
This should reshape what you are asking for in your own unremoved trial. Removal is a legitimate prayer, and Paul prayed it honestly. But sufficiency is the promise actually given, grace enough for today, strength made perfect in exactly the weakness you keep wishing away.
Paul’s response to this answer is remarkable: he chooses to glory in his infirmities, so that the power of Christ may rest upon him. Consider praying that same prayer today, not for removal, but for his strength to be made visible in your unremoved weakness.
In the Fire
- Name a thorn you have asked God to remove without an answer yet.
- Ask instead today for sufficient grace and strength made perfect in that weakness.
- Notice one place his power might be visible precisely because your own has run out.
Prayer
Lord, I have asked for removal and not yet received it. Give me instead what you promised Paul: grace that is sufficient, and strength made perfect in this exact weakness. Amen.
Carry this today
His strength is not despite my weakness. It is made perfect in it.