I have been thinking a lot about thankfulness, gratitude, praising our LORD in any and all circumstances, especially during this bout with PMR. While I’ve done a bit of research at numerous well-known medical centers’ online resources, I haven’t come away with much more knowledge than what my primary physician told me initially. That has led me to a different source, my LORD and Savior Christ Jesus. I’ve turned to Him with my requests, and yes, with my thankfulness, gratitude and praise. I’ve decided to follow Paul’s example in 2 Corinthians 12:8-10.
Paul was being tormented by what he calls his “thorn in the flesh.” He doesn’t reveal what that “thorn” was, but he does tell us he took it to the LORD in prayer three times. He kept praying until God gave Him an answer. The answer probably wasn’t what Paul hoped it would be. God did not remove his “thorn” but answered Paul in a much different way. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” [v9]
He gave Paul grace … Charis in the Greek. Grace is the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life, including gratitude. He gave Paul grace sufficient for his need.
Paul’s response? It was to glory in his weakness, or as some translations render it, to delight in, or rejoice in his weakness, for that is what the Greek word means. Paul could glory, delight, rejoice in his own weakness for he knew that Christ Jesus’ power was resting upon him and making up the difference. The power of God was completing a circle of perfection, the weaker Paul was in himself, the more of Christ’s power was available to him.
While we don’t always welcome weakness in our lives … nor seek our infirmities for infirmities’ sake … we do welcome the power of the Living God that completes us. In that we can delight, rejoice and glory in. Praise and gratitude for all God is doing in us is the atmosphere of our lives, especially in our weakness! Glory in Him, church!
