When God Gave Paul a Thorn: The Power of Weakness

Paul begged three times for God to remove his “thorn in the flesh.”

God’s answer? “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Most of us hate that answer.
We want the thorn gone. We want the pain erased. We want to feel strong again.

But Paul’s response wrecks us in the best way:
“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

The moment Paul stopped fighting to look strong, Christ’s power moved in and set up camp.

Your thorn — chronic illness, depression, prodigal child, shattered marriage, addiction — is not a sign God has abandoned you. It may be the very place He has chosen to show the world that His power still works best through broken vessels.

Today’s Challenge
Write down your biggest “thorn” on a piece of paper. Underneath it write:
“This is where Christ’s power will rest on me.”

Keep it somewhere you’ll see every day.