From: Through The Bible Devotionals

 

2 Corinthians 12:7-9 "...A thorn in the flesh was given to me. Three times I begged the Lord about this, that it might leave me, but He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for 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."

 

Sometimes God does not deliver us from our suffering but gives us the grace to endure it. That can be a more powerful testimony of God at work in us than if we were to be healed.

 

You probably know someone that lives with hardship and yet does so graciously, even helping others in the process. That says more about the power of God in their life than if they were to be healed.

Some insist that all people are to be healed. This case of Paul shows us that is not always true.

 

Paul had to have such power from God for his ministry that only an affliction could keep him from pride. Paul's response to his situation was to boast about the weakness so that the power could rest on him. He would prefer to have the power of God in his life and be weak than to be in full health and not be used as mightily by God.