DATE POSTED Thursday, 2022-08-18
WRITTEN AT: O’Brien, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: 2 Corinthians 12:8-10
TRANSLATION: Living Bible (TLB)

BIBLE TEXT: ⁸ Three different times I begged God to make me well again. ⁹ Each time he said, “No. But I am with you; that is all you need. My power shows up best in weak people.” Now I am glad to boast about how weak I am; I am glad to be a living demonstration of Christ’s power, instead of showing off my own power and abilities. ¹⁰ Since I know it is all for Christ’s good, I am quite happy about “the thorn,” and about insults and hardships, persecutions and difficulties; for when I am weak, then I am strong—the less I have, the more I depend on him.

APPLICATION: When we’re in pain and feeling the effects of that pain, we run to the medicine cabinet to find Tylenol, Ibuprofen, or similar OTC pain relieving drugs to help eradicate that pain. Those pain pills are our saving grace, and we readily turn to them whenever the need arises! However, when life is good and we are pain-free, we find no need to run to the medicine cabinet or think about Tylenol or Ibuprofen, praise the Lord! We just go on about life without a care or concern in the world. In fact, if we see others in distress over an ailment, we may even brag about our great health! Could this have been where God was coming from when He saw the potential in Paul, knew the tremendous work He had planned for him, but realized how side-tracked he might become in rejoicing over the blessings he received from God? Could it be that God saw how challenged Paul might be to identify with those down on their luck, seriously swayed by the world, and those who couldn’t get themselves above the sick world where they daily buried their worries? After being on such a ‘high’ from the change in lifestyle for Paul, can you even begin to imagine how terrified he was to be struck by something that would distract his momentum? However, to be effective disciples and have the ability to identify with everyone that we will meet, God has to sometime place us in circumstances to help us out with that. Using the comparison of the pain pills mentioned above, can you see where God had to quickly get Paul’s attention to get over feeling sorry for himself, and becoming envious of God for not hearing his cry to rid him of that ‘thorn in the flesh’? Don’t we tend to use every excuse why we can’t do certain things? My feet aches, I don’t have proper shoes, I have an infection on my foot, my wrist is weak, etc. etc. I believe that God continues to whisper to us the same promise He made to Paul – why are you whining and complaining, my undeserved favor is freely available to you, and we can do all things through the strength of the One who lives inside of you! There is nothing that you and God can’t do! Just like the pain pills, God is our saving grace dear friends! He will heal us of our diseases and restore our strength to serve Him even better. It’s up to us to seek God and appreciate that His healing may not happen the way we ask for it or expect. Remember, God knows what we need, even if it’s something to help us draw even closer to, and fully dependent on Him. So, let’s learn to simply place our concerns before God and ask Him for the strength we need to do His will. We may not be able to walk, but God can get us from point A to point B without healing of crippled feet. Just share with Him your points of pain and discomfort and watch how He delivers miracle after miracle while we simply worship and adore His mighty works. Remember, God said in another Scripture that He would not place more on us than we could handle. Be assured dear friend, that God knows what we can handle. Trust Him today and be ready to obey His call. Trust Him with all your cares, and He will deliver you from the weight of your burdens. Make yourself available and allow God to work through you to accomplish His work.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: “I am with you, and that is all you need’ says the Lord God Almighty! Blessed be the name of the Lord!

PRAYER: Often times we use the slightest obstacle to prevent us from ministering, even though we are spreading the joy of salvation in Your wonderful name. Forgive us Lord for assuming that because we are part of the greatest movement ever to affect this world, we don’t deserve hardships. Remind us often of Your authority over the very bodies that You created. Thank You for the reminder of what You told to Paul. You didn’t heal him to his specifications, and You may choose to do the same to us. But praise to Your wonderful name Lord, You assured him of Your presence, and that You were all that He needed. May that be a constant reminder to us! AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!