The Universality of Suffering


Prayer: Dear God, there is no one else like You. Alone, You created all things, saved us from our sins, and bring us to faith. You alone remain with me no matter my circumstance and You alone deserve the praise as Lord of lords and King of kings. Please teach me, grow me, and inspire greater faith in me. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

Read: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
http://www.esvbible.org/ 2 Corinthians 12:7-10

Think about It: True students of the Bible know that it is anything but sunshine and lollypops throughout the Book. No, instead it is a gritty, realistic look at the human condition, our great fragility, and our overwhelming need for rescue. Biblical heroes are flawed most of the time and God lets us see those cracks and chips in their personalities and their lifestyles. Of what use would the Bible be if it were filled with stories of people who were perfect and who never really needed God in the first place? With the exception of Jesus, they all had their issues, temptations, and problems. (Even Jesus had temptations, but never succumbed to their call.)

Paul is one of those flawed characters. He started out as a murderer, chasing down Christians and having them killed in his role as a leader among the    Pharisees. After his conversion, and well into his ministry, we learn that he has a “thorn in the flesh” that torments him continuously. The text is completely silent about what that thorn might be and generations of theologians since he lived have tried to figure it out and have numerous ideas and suggestions like a speech impediment, a hump on his back, or even blindness. But no one knows for sure. And really, that’s the way it should be because we would then stand our “thorns” up against his and make comparisons which wouldn’t serve us well at all. No, instead God leaves it a mystery and we learn how Paul dealt with the problem. He did what any of us would do – he took it to the Lord, asking for relief from the torture. And God says “no”. In His ultimate wisdom, God decides that it would be better for Paul that he carries this problem to the grave. Instead of relieving the suffering, God tells Paul that all he needs is God’s grace. Here’s the kicker – Paul accepts that judgment from God! He is willing to carry this burden if it brings God glory and if God’s grace is displayed all the more in Paul’s life.

Jesus comes to a similar conclusion when He asks the Father to remove the cup of suffering. He too accepts the Father’s “no” with a willing spirit. Neither Paul nor Jesus probably walked away from those conversations feeling great about the “no” they received. But they both accepted the fact that an infinite God always has the best plan and the wisest way to go. We learn from them how to hear God’s “no” and move on with our lives, knowing that His way is the best way. Do we have to be happy about it? No. Do we have to be obedient to it? Of course. But we can also be assured that God helps us with that obedience if we only let Him.

Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, it goes beyond our understanding as to how You set Your feet upon the path the Father set before You. Just as Paul accepted his thorn, help me also to accept Your “no” along with the “yes” that that I hear. Teach me to be obedient even when it is painful. Help me to accept that You always have a better and bigger plan than I could ever imagine and that I need to step aside and allow Your plan to have full fruit in my life. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

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