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Praying God’s Word Wednesday: 2 Corinthians 12:9

June 29, 2022 by Lauren 10 Comments

We cannot escape pain.  I try to.  I shop, I eat, I binge watch TV, but it only distracts from the pain for a moment.  Sickness, cancer, physical pain, the economy, moral failure and the lingering effects of the pandemic.  Those are just the painful things I’M personally experiencing right now.  Add on the heartache all around me.  Mass shootings, protests, racism, political fighting, countries at war – you name it.  We will never run out of things to pray for!

 

The apostle Paul knew a little something about pain.  He mentioned a thorn in his flesh.  We don’t know what it was – even if it was physical, mental or emotional – but we know it tormented him (his words).  He pleaded, he said, 3 times for God to take this thorn away from him.  God’s answer came in 2 Corinthians 12:9.

 

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.

 

I don’t know Paul, but I feel certain this is not the answer he hoped for.  And although it may not have seemed so at the time of Paul’s request, God gave him a better gift than removing his pain.  God gave him the grace to bear up under it.

 

By keeping Paul in a place of weakness, Paul’s dependence on God grew.  Complete dependence on God was Paul’s greatest strength.  And God’s presence and companionship trumps any other gift He could give us.

 

Paul wrote about this to encourage us through our hurts and heartaches today. When we petition the Lord, He often takes away our hardship.  But He just as often walks with us through our suffering.  My prayer:

 

Father, pull ________ in so close during times of weakness that she has no choice but to lean on You.  And pour out Your generous grace on her in situations that she doesn’t even recognize weakness.  Thank You for loving us that much.  Amen.

 

Replace the pronouns with the appropriate ones for the person (or yourself) that you are praying for.  And if you are praying for your kids, say their names before the Father.  I am doing so here in the privacy of my home.

 

Praying for you in this.  And don’t forget to share on social media or with a friend who could benefit.  It would mean so much to me.  And if you don’t want to miss a Praying God’s Word Wednesday, subscribe over on the right hand side of this page.

Lauren

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Filed Under: Bible reading, Christian, grace, prayer, suffering

Comments

  1. Joanne Viola says

    June 29, 2022 at 8:32 pm

    Lauren, this was such a wonderful reminder to read tonight. “although it may not have seemed so at the time of Paul’s request, God gave him a better gift than removing his pain.” Weakness has a unique way of changing us and making us stronger than we ever thought possible.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      June 30, 2022 at 6:20 am

      You are so right, Joanne. Although that can be so hard to see in the moment!

      Reply
  2. Amy says

    June 30, 2022 at 8:46 am

    I love that we don’t get to know Paul’s weakness. It makes the issue so much more relatable to whoever is struggling. These are some of my favorite verses as well!

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      June 30, 2022 at 2:31 pm

      I 100 percent agree, Amy. God’s plan all along, I’m sure.

      Reply
  3. Danielle says

    July 1, 2022 at 11:52 am

    I feel like this prayer was meant for me as I am weak and healing from surgery. I just took it in that way. So thank you.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      July 3, 2022 at 12:22 pm

      Danielle, it was for you. Praying for your recovery right now.

      Reply
  4. Paula Short says

    July 3, 2022 at 1:10 pm

    Praying with you today my friend. I love praying God’s word Wednesdays. I always glean something. Blessings.

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      July 4, 2022 at 1:37 pm

      Thank you so much for the prayers, and praying with me.

      Reply
  5. Tea With Jennifer says

    July 4, 2022 at 7:08 pm

    Yes & yes! God gives us Himself in the face of pain & hardships.

    I’ve actually been able to view this chronic pain I’m in over the past 17 years as a gift, a special gift of His constant presence to ‘be’ with & in Him.

    Something we miss when we are constantly ‘doing’ for Him!
    I love your prayer too Lauren.
    Blessings,
    Jennifer

    Reply
    • Lauren says

      July 6, 2022 at 1:58 pm

      That is a place of true maturity to be able to view a trial that you are still in the midst of that way, Jennifer.

      Reply

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I love Jesus, my husband and caffeine. The order of these can change depending on how tired I am. When my two daughters, stepson, and 4 grandchildren get to be too much, I practice yoga. God graciously allows me to share our adventures, victories and flub-ups from my laptop. May He be glorified here.
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