Gift of God Devotional

“I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭5‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What are you boasting in? Are you boasting in your strengths and the things you like about yourself? Are you boasting in the things you dislike about yourself? What do you highlight about yourself to others? 

Paul tells us to boast only in our weaknesses. It’s important to note that Paul knew that he could boast about his accomplishments (verse 6), but he didn’t – because he knew that all glory deserved to go to God! 

Paul tells us about the thorn in his flesh – something Paul tells us is from Satan to torment him. We don’t know a lot of details about this thorn in his flesh, but we can all relate to it. We know that he pleaded with God to take it away, and instead of taking it away, Jesus said this (red letters): “ My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Verses 9-10 are so important to the testimony of Paul, as he faced many hardships and difficulties everywhere he went.

Do you feel as if you have a thorn in your side? Do you plead with God to have it taken away from you? I know I do – I have thought of my depression and mental health as a continual thorn in my side for years. I have even boasted about this thorn to let it define who I am! But God uses that as part of my testimony and as part of my ministry. He uses it as a way to reach others who feel like they can relate. 

Is God wanting to use that “weakness” in your life for His power and glory?

We are weak; He is strong. We live in our weakness by His strength. Christ gives us the strength we need. He does not promise that we will not go through it or that it will not be more than we can bear. He does, however, promise that He will be with us. He does, however, promise that it will not be more than He can bear.

“We are weak in Him, yet by God’s power we will live with Him…” 2 Cor. 13:4 (emphasis mine).

Are you choosing to let God walk with you so that you can live by His power and not by your own