Trusting in Him alone
If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:6-9
When things are working well in life, it is easy to overlook the source behind such accomplishment. We tend to think that all are results of one’s own abilities and strength. This kind of attitude is what prevents us from learning how to grow in our trust in God. Then later on when things are not working well in life, we find it difficult to come to God and ask for His help. We only come to God when we have exhausted all our resources. From the text, the Apostle Paul expressed how God dealt with his exceptionally strong willed behavior. Before he came to know Christ as Lord and Savior, his reliance is upon his ability to be zealous in pursuing those who were promoting faith in Christ. Until God broke his tenacity by helping him recognize his need of a Savior. Though he was instrumental in the expansion of the Kingdom of God reaching many places in the world, he attributed all these successes to the working of God through his life. God brought upon his life what he called “thorn in the flesh” so he will learn how to be humble before God. He was used by God to perform miracles such as healing and commanding evil spirit to come out from the body of a young girl who was used in divination (see Acts 16). Yet, his own affliction that remained in his body despite of God’s power being manifested kept him humble before God. Paul’s affliction was God’s way of manifesting His wonder working power. Only in his weakness that he rely and trust God. He was following Christ’s example when He was still living in human flesh. The Lord Jesus Christ humbled Himself and did not seek to initiate His own activity apart from the Father’s will. “So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does” (John 5:19). When you feel that you can just rely on your own strength in meeting all your needs, think again. Once you get into the habit of trusting you’re your own abilities and strength the more you will not grow in your dependence upon God. Do not wait for the time that God will bring you to a point of lowliness so you could learn how to trust Him. But if that is what it takes for God to draw you close to Him, do not detest what God brought upon your life for that is what will bring you to depend on His strength. “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).
Blessings,
