Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9b
Imagine a Christian who has had a chronic illness for years, one that keeps them from doing a lot of the things they would like to do even in service to the Lord. Imagine also that this person has always struggled to make ends meet financially. Add to that a very strained relationship with a close family member. For many years this person has prayed about all of these issues and seen little improvement if any.
Now just imagine that God comes in some form and speaks to that person, and God tells them that He is not going to fix any of these problems. The person will die before a cure for their disease is found, continue to struggle financially as they do now, and the family member who makes life so difficult will outlive them.
Imagine God says something like this: I know this may seem harsh, but this is what is best. I have my reasons, but I am not going to explain them to you. You will have to trust that I am a loving and omniscient God and that I know what I’m doing.
Now imagine the person is you. If you knew for a fact that God was not going to change any of your most negative life circumstances, what would you do?
Though this would be disappointing news, in some ways, it would make it easier to decide whether to stay faithful, right? We don’t buy a car or a house without knowing something about its condition and what the payments are. It’s easier to decide if you want to commit to something when you know the cost upfront.
The apostle Paul had an experience similar in some ways to our imaginary scenario. He pleaded with the Lord three times to take away his “thorn in the flesh,” (whatever it may have been), but God said no, I’m not going to fix that for you (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). The only explanation God gave was this: My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.
After God’s direct answer of “no,” I imagine it was easier for Paul to say, okay, so be it, “I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
So what are we to do when we have an ongoing problem that we pray about year after year after year? We may conclude that God has said “no” and that we should stop praying about it. There’s so much in the Bible to indicate that continued prayer can eventually make a difference. Still, if God doesn’t answer even after a long time, as C.S. Lewis once wrote to a friend, “one comes to the conclusion either that [God] does not exist or that you have got the address wrong.”
We shouldn’t expect to receive a direct answer as Paul did, but God HAS told us the terms of the agreement before we signed on. He never agreed to fix any particular earthly problem. He told us that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution,” (2 Timothy 3:12). And He said that “we walk by faith, not by sight,” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
If we knew that God was not going to solve the big problems in our lives, would we still serve Him? And would we perhaps serve Him better; do whatever we could in our illness; give whatever we could in our poverty; let go of bitterness over that difficult relationship?
God’s strength is made perfect in weakness. This is not what we want to hear. This may mean we live a life that is shameful to the world and painful to us. But it can still be a life that brings glory to God. And isn’t that –a life that brings glory to God– exactly what we bargained for?
For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. 1 Corinthians 6:20
Dear God, please use my weakness to show Your strength, and help me to be faithful no matter what. I pray to You in hope and faith, but as I wait on Your perfect timing, help me to find ways to serve You in spite of my limitations. How I long to be in heaven with You, Lord, but as long as I have to be in this physical body, I will put my trust in You. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
by Christie Cole Atkins
Related Reading:
Walk Worthy 