Finding your Spiritual Gifts
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.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 12:7-9 (ESV)
Sometimes when you’re outside doing some yard work, you end up rummaging through some thorn bushes. Afterwards, you might discover some thorns stuck in your skin. This reminds us of Paul’s saying in 2 Corinthians 12:7, “thorn in my flesh.” God gave us strengths, abilities and spiritual gifts, as noted in 1 Corinthians 12, but He also gave us weaknesses. Every now and then, we catch a thorn in our flesh that hinders us. Most of the time, our stubbornness helps us fight through them. Other times, we feel burdened and helpless.
The Bible says, specifically in this passage, that we don’t have to fight our weaknesses. Jesus has already fought them and won the battle through his death and resurrection. Our job as Christians is to admit our weaknesses and confess our sins to God. If we surrender it all to Him, God will do His work. We have to realize that we can’t fight our battles on our own. We need God’s help. We have to embrace our weaknesses and our thorns. They are there to show just how much God can work in our lives and to give Him all the glory. We are living in a world full of sin and sorrows. The good news is that Jesus has overcome this world. We have to accept His victory and apply it to our life.
This week, pray and meditate on your weaknesses and how God can help you get through them. Look for the opportunity to tell others about God’s great love through the power of Jesus Christ, who has overcome all of our battles.