But God’s power works through our weakness July 15, 2024
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 I was given a thorn in my flesh … Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 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. … For when I am weak, then I am strong.
I’m sure you’ve had the experience, as I did last week, of injuring a finger on the thorn of a rose and then asking “Why? Why do beautiful roses have such sharp thorns?”
Shutterstock: Albatros-Design
And you may have noticed, as I’ve been working my way through 2 Corinthians on this blog, that I skipped the best-known part of chapter 12. I did that because I’ve written about it so many times as the theme of Karis’s life. This began when she was eleven, when she asked her father and me not to pray any longer for her healing, and instead to pray that she would understand and fulfill God’s purposes for her life.
This theme prompted her to write in her journal at age sixteen, “All I see is grace,” the phrase I chose for the subtitle of her book. Perhaps you have read Karis: All I See Is Grace and understand from her life a bit more about God’s love extended to us through suffering and loss. (I just noticed in looking up this link that it’s on sale right now on Amazon.)
So why am I doubling back to this passage today? I just listened to a sermon on it by Lauren Scharf at our church on July 7, a day we were away. I want you to take time to listen to it, because she expresses so well what Karis learned and what she lived out: Our intimacy with Jesus is enhanced when we go through grief and suffering because he, the Man of Sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief (Isaiah 53:3), knows from his own personal experience what it’s like. He understands. He walks with us through the deep valleys (Psalm 23), offering us grace to help us when we need it most (Hebrews 4:15-16).
Whatever your “thorn” is, whatever you are struggling with, you are not alone. Jesus is with you. Please take a few minutes to listen to Lauren’s sermon. It might be the best thing you do all week!
Debra Kornfield 
Deb, I just listened to the sermon. What a beautiful message and how wonderfully and directly it applied to me. Right away I could point to my current Thorn. It is my prohibition from driving. That is most definitely a thorn for me right now. It is a source of imagined, personal pairn, an item that I complain about and sulk about, and feel sorry for myself every day. Of course, I tell people about it and how hard it is and, if I am honest, in a self-centered way, I want people to feel sorry for me, like a thorn in my side has caused my side to bleed and don’t you feel sorry for me now? After I listened to this message and experiencing this so-called “hardship” for a number of months now, I think it’s time to get off the “pity-pot” as they say, and begin to ask God to show me what he wants me to do with this turn of events in my life and guide me along this new path. That much is pretty clear to me. Stop whining and start do-ing. Thank you – once again, Deb, for this simple suggestion. Much Love to you – again. Meredith
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It’s tough not to have the freedom of driving, Meredith. I’m glad this post and Lauren’s sermon were helpful to you! Looking forward to seeing you next week!
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Dearest Debra, I hope you received my Comment. Much Love, God Bless, Meredith
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I did, Meredith. I’m sending it to Lauren to encourage her.
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