Dependent on God

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. 2 Corinthians 12:9

Every once in a while I will have an aha moment of understanding or insight. Today was one of those days. I was reading about the apostle Paul and the thorn in his side. I’ve heard the story many times and understood that it was meant to help him realize his need and dependence on God.

The aha moment came when I read the study notes on the passage that read: “Paul had a thorn in his side that he couldn’t remove, even though he had healed others. His affliction made him dependent on God.” Think about that for a moment. Paul had healed many people and even raised a young boy from the dead. He was living in the power and strength of God’s Holy Spirit. But he couldn’t heal himself.

It made me wonder how many times we ask God to take away the very thing that keeps us close to Him. We see His power on full display in our lives as we love, encourage, and help others, but question why He allows other limitations to remain. I imagine that Paul wrestled with those very thoughts, but came to the understanding that what he thought was weakness, God displayed as strength in ways that others watching his life could not deny.

After studying this, I thought about the things that I have so often prayed for God to take away or fix in my life, and I was reminded that those are the very things that have drawn me to Him again and again and again. Looking at those moments from God’s perspective, He was drawing me to Him and was overjoyed whenever I would call out to Him. He patiently waited for me to gain understanding until I finally, like the apostle Paul, came to His throne, rejoicing and shouting praises for God’s faithfulness and provision. I no longer ask Him to remove them. Rather, I look at them as opportunities to talk with Him and be filled with fresh strength and peace to endure them. I can’t do this myself. I need and want God to be fully involved, and I’m so grateful for His amazing sufficiency.