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Revealing our weaknesses is one of the last things in the world we tend to want to do. Most of us don't like to admit our weaknesses to ourselves, let alone to other people. But instead of denying or trying to disguise those weaknesses we need to recognize the paradoxical truth that God wants to make it possible for us to come to know what it means to live life so that when we are weak we are actually strong. How is it possible to be both weak and strong at one and the same time?

Paul’s second New Testament letter to the church located in ancient Corinth was designed to address the problem of certain false teachers that were threatening to lead the believers there away from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. In order to defend his own genuine credentials as an apostle, here in our text Paul reluctantly talks about an incredible encounter he had with God.

I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven — whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise — whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows — and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses — though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. 2 Corinthians 12:1-6, ESV

Apparently, some 14 years before his writing this letter to those in Christ in Corinth, Paul had an awesome experience where he was transported by God into his holy presence in heaven. During that time in God’s presence the Lord revealed to him certain truths that were so extraordinarily magnificent that the Lord prohibited him from sharing it with others. However, to prevent Paul from becoming puffed up in pride because of the uniqueness of his heavenly experience we discover in our text that some sort of weakness came upon the apostle.

So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:7-9a, ESV

We really don’t know what the thorn was that Paul was given, but on the one hand he says that it “was a messenger of Satan to harass me”. However, God allowed Satan to inflict the thorn in order to accomplish a greater purpose. Recognizing God’s sovereignty over his struggle, Paul’s first response is to pray that the Lord would remove this thorn. The third time making his request, the Lord said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” All of us in Christ will experience times when, after much prayer it becomes evident that the Lord is doing something we perhaps can’t understand and wouldn’t choose.

Notice again that in verse 7 he says, “a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me…”. That phrase “messenger of Satan” is significant. As we’ve already recognized, the purpose of that message is to harass or torment us. But, we learn from Paul’s experience that with such thorns there also is a message from the Lord, not just from Satan, and that message is, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul recognized the wonder of the mystery of this paradox of strength in weakness, and chose to listen to God’s message associated with his thorn rather than Satan’s, and we need to do the same thing with our thorns whatever they may be.

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9b-10, ESV