The NIV 365 Day Devotional

Boasting in Weakness

Paul has labored to turn the boasts of the opponents upside down. They boast in their triumphs, so he has boasted in his sufferings.

Now he is in an awkward position. The opponents boast of visions they have received. The opposite of this would be boasting in the fact that he has not received visions, which would be lying. Paul received a vision of paradise that was exceedingly great, and if he were to boast in that vision, he would not be a fool but would be telling the truth. Paul is able to turn this boast on its head, however, by showing that the greatness of the vision created a pride problem in Paul that God had to address.

The structure of verse 7 is masterful. The middle of the verse describes a thorn in the flesh. This thorn is a messenger from Satan designed to torment Paul. But God has a purpose for the thorn. The verse begins and ends with God’s design to humble Paul. What Satan intended for evil, God turned for good.

Paul responds to the painful torment of the thorn in a natural way: he asks the Lord to remove it (v. 8). But he receives an unexpected answer in another vision.

Jesus did not take away the thorn; Jesus gave Paul more of himself (v. 9). God’s solution to earthly suffering is not to take away the trials to make earth a paradise. His answer to suffering is to give us more of himself and his all-sufficient grace so that we have enough to endure the trials. This response totally changes Paul’s perspective. He goes from praying for the removal of the weakness to boasting in the weakness (v. 10).

How do weak people boast? They boast that Jesus is strong enough for anything they face. The surpassing power belongs to him and rests on us.

Taken from the NIV Grace and Truth Study Bible.