“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Facing the same vexing situations day in and day out becomes wearisome. We are “done.” We declare, “Enough already.” Our prayer to God is simple – “Lord, I want out! Take this away from me!”
God wants us to make our requests known to Him. But we are to do so in faith that He knows, better than we do, what is best for us. His thoughts and our thoughts may not match. Our aims pertain to our pleasures and comforts in this world, His plans go much further. Paul came to call his afflictions “light.” He recognized that they were “but for a moment,” and that they were working in him a “far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.” (2 Cor. 4:17)
There is enough grace in Jesus Christ for our every “thorn in the flesh.” Whatever drives us to God is good. There is much gold to be gained in the fires of life. Flesh reflexively wants out of fire. Who naturally embraces pain? Paul learned to settle in to those places which were spiritually fertile. Such requires that our mind be renewed in knowledge. It begins in earnest when we see the potential for good in what we once deemed only evil.
The pain of the cross was temporary in the life of Christ. Likewise, the suffering of the righteous will one day be over. How great will our treasure be in that day? Our gain then will be according to the grace we were willing to receive now. God’s ultimate goal is that we should rule and reign with Him forever. Train well.