Any good parent does not want their children to go through difficulties or hard times. At the same time, they also know that it is struggles and difficulties that cause their children to grow. The same is true with our spiritual lives. The difficulties and struggles that we face in this life often deepen our faith. As our perfect Heavenly Father who knows what we need, God is more concerned about our spiritual growth than our physical comfort. As a result, sometimes He says “no” when we pray and ask Him to alleviate a difficulty we are facing, because He knows that that difficulty will lead to tremendous spiritual growth, which is critical in each one of our lives.
The apostle Paul understood that God sometimes answers our prayers with “no” because He is more concerned with our spiritual growth than with our physical comfort. In 2nd Corinthians 12, he recounted a prayer of his that God answered with “No.” He began this passage of Scripture by describing visions that God had given him, which he acknowledged were something worth boasting about. In light of these grand visions that might tempt him to brag about being the recipient of, Paul explained that God had given him a “thorn in [his] flesh …to keep [him] from becoming proud” (verse 7). We do not know what this struggle was, whether it was a physical or emotional struggle. What we do know is that it tormented Paul (verse 7). Paul explained in this passage of Scripture that he “begged” God “three different times” to take away his struggle (verse 8). Every time Paul asked God to take his struggle away, God said to Him, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (verse 9). This answer emboldened Paul. He began to see his struggle as a vessel for God’s power to be on display. That’s why Paul concluded, “So now I am glad to boast about my weakness, so the power of God can work through me” (verse 9). Paul did not stop there, however. He added that he actually took pleasure in his struggles and difficulties, saying, “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (verse 10). This, my friend, is a tremendous attitude shift. What Paul described in this passage of Scripture was remarkable spiritual growth, which is critical for growth in our relationships with God. Paul understood that God’s power was displayed specifically through his weaknesses. He would not have understood that truth if God had answered his prayer and taken away his struggle.
The truth is, sometimes God uses our weakness, struggles, and difficulties to grow tremendous spiritual fruit in us. Our struggles are the times in our lives when spiritual growth happens because it is our weakness and struggles that point us to our dependence on God. When God produces this fruit in us, I’m convinced that we would not trade that growth for anything.
Think for a moment about a difficulty you are currently facing. How might God be using that difficulty that you are facing to help you grow in your faith? How do you already see evidence of spiritual growth? After reflecting on these questions, thank God for the way He uses our trials and difficulties to help us grow. Specifically, thank Him for the ways He has helped you grow during the difficult seasons you have walked through. He is a good God who always cares for His people.
“God, as I remember Your strength on display through my weaknesses, I thank You for…”
This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows. 3 Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know 4 that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.
5 That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. 6 If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, 7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul’s Concern for the Corinthians
11 You have made me act like a fool. You ought to be writing commendations for me, for I am not at all inferior to these “super apostles,” even though I am nothing at all. 12 When I was with you, I certainly gave you proof that I am an apostle. For I patiently did many signs and wonders and miracles among you. 13 The only thing I failed to do, which I do in the other churches, was to become a financial burden to you. Please forgive me for this wrong!
14 Now I am coming to you for the third time, and I will not be a burden to you. I don’t want what you have—I want you. After all, children don’t provide for their parents. Rather, parents provide for their children. 15 I will gladly spend myself and all I have for you, even though it seems that the more I love you, the less you love me.
16 Some of you admit I was not a burden to you. But others still think I was sneaky and took advantage of you by trickery. 17 But how? Did any of the men I sent to you take advantage of you? 18 When I urged Titus to visit you and sent our other brother with him, did Titus take advantage of you? No! For we have the same spirit and walk in each other’s steps, doing things the same way.
19 Perhaps you think we’re saying these things just to defend ourselves. No, we tell you this as Christ’s servants, and with God as our witness. Everything we do, dear friends, is to strengthen you. 20 For I am afraid that when I come I won’t like what I find, and you won’t like my response. I am afraid that I will find quarreling, jealousy, anger, selfishness, slander, gossip, arrogance, and disorderly behavior. 21 Yes, I am afraid that when I come again, God will humble me in your presence. And I will be grieved because many of you have not given up your old sins. You have not repented of your impurity, sexual immorality, and eagerness for lustful pleasure.
