In every moment of pain, the Lord provides the grace we need in order to endure.

Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me–to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.  And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

What should we do with our pain when God doesn’t remove it? How can He be a God of love and yet not come to our aid?

Today’s passage gives us insight into a painful event in Paul’s life. We don’t know what the “thorn in the flesh” was, but his account of what he learned through that experience is an amazing example of three things God teaches us through adversity:

1.    God is sovereign over the situation. Ultimately, He is the one who allowed the difficulty and the one with the power to end it.

2.    God prioritizes the spiritual. Paul wanted physical relief, but the Lord was working for his spiritual good. Whatever God allows to afflict believers is designed to protect them from sin, produce holiness, and equip them for faithful service.

3.    God’s grace is sufficient. The Lord gave Paul both the grace to endure and strength in his weakness.

Once we understand the Lord’s sovereignty, priorities, and sufficiency, we can respond to our afflictions as Paul did—with gladness (James 1:2-3). When Christ’s strength is perfected in us, we can be content in whatever difficulties God allows in our life. The Lord’s unwillingness to give us relief is not neglect. Rather, it is evidence of His surpassing love, which seeks our eternal good.