Greetings, Precious Family:
Family, this evening I was meditating on the Scripture passage where the Apostle Paul asked Christ Jesus to remove the thorn from his flesh. This passage has always intrigued me because nearly every other time someone came to Jesus seeking healing, they received it.
Paul endured persecution, physical ailments, spiritual attacks, and deep personal struggles. We know that Jesus has the power to heal — so why, in this instance, did He not honor Paul’s request?
As you read the passage below, pay close attention to Paul’s testimony in verse ten. There is a revelation hidden there — one that shifts our understanding of strength, suffering, and the sufficiency of grace.
Sometimes the miracle is not removal — it is sustaining grace.
Scripture Passage of the Day
2 Corinthians 12:6-10
New English Translation
6 For even if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I would be telling[a] the truth, but I refrain from this so that no one may regard[b] me beyond what he sees in me or what he hears from me, 7 even because of the extraordinary character of the revelations. Therefore,[c] so that I would not become arrogant, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to trouble[d] me—so that I would not become arrogant.[e] 8 I asked the Lord three times about this, that it would depart from me. 9 But[f] he said to me, “My grace is enough[g] for you, for my[h] power is made perfect[i] in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly[j] about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in[k] me. 10 Therefore I am content with[l] weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties[m] for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.
Let Us Pray
Spirit of the Living God, we come before You humbled by the mystery of Your ways. When we ask for relief and You respond with grace instead of removal, help us trust that You see what we cannot.
Teach us what it means to be strong in weakness. Quiet the parts of us that demand immediate deliverance, and awaken in us a deeper dependence on You.
If the thorn remains, let Your grace be louder than our pain. If the struggle lingers, let Your strength be perfected in us.
We surrender our expectations and receive Your sufficiency. We lift this prayer to our Chief Intercessor and Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Lord in your mercy hear our prayer.
And we let it be…And so it is…
Amen, Amen, and Amen
Video of the Day
“Sufficient for today” is written by Dante Bowe, Maryanne J George, Tiffany Hammer, Pat Barrett & Joe L Barnes. This song is from Jubilee: Juneteenth Edition released on June 18th, 2021. Recorded at a live worship event celebrating Juneteenth.
Rev. Marcia Davis, BA, MA
Covington, GA (USA)
Sacred Journey Devotionals - Where Christianity and Metaphysics Meet 