Scripture:  2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV) ⁷ To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. ⁹ 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. ¹⁰ 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.

Observations:  God does not answer all prayer the way we would like.  This flies in the face of the name it & claim it gospel.  His power is made perfect in weakness.  When I am weak I am more likely to reach out and depend on Him.  My Lord desires that I live in a state of dependency.  Delight/Rejoice in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions & difficulties?  That was Paul’s attitude.  When I am weak – I run to Him and He is strong.  When I am strong, everything is going great, I believe that I am in control and all is well, then I am self-confident rather than dependant. 

Application:  While I know from experience that some of my most difficult days are some of my best days, because they drive me to my knees and to my Lord – I still have not mastered this passage.  I need the Lord’s help to delight in those things.  I need to daily see my weaknesses and my problems as an opportunity to rejoice in my Lord’s strength and provision.  I need Paul’s attitude.

Prayer:  Father, help me with this.  I sometimes whine at those things Paul listed.  I want to know why, and how long when I deal with difficulties.  I want to know when it’s going to get easier.  Help me rejoice as I run to You.  You are my strength when I am weak…  Amen