Restore week 3 manuscript B

“The Purpose of Pain”

Illustration: Playing Basketball

7th to 12th grade

Twisting my ankles and jamming my finger

Talking with the coach

Turning in my uniform

The pain of rejection-

Not good enough

Over looked

Under valued

Comparison

"I remember when I felt utterly powerless—like there was no solution to the situation I was facing. I prayed, asking God to take it away, and I’m sure many of you have been there, too.

But what do we do when God doesn’t take the pain away?

That’s what I want us to explore today—how God can restore us *through* our pain, not just around it."

As we begin, I want to ask you a question: When was the last time you thanked God for your weakness?

This question may feel strange.

We’re used to thanking God for His blessings, not our weaknesses.

But today’s passage reveals a deep truth: It’s in our weaknesses that Christ’s strength is made perfect.

### **2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (ESV)**

> “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

### **Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh**

Paul writes to the Corinthian church to defend his apostleship and address challenges, but here he speaks about a personal struggle—a "thorn in the flesh."

"We all have our own ‘thorn in the flesh,’ don’t we? It could be an illness that won’t go away, a family relationship that’s broken, or a fear that constantly whispers lies to your heart.

We’ve all prayed for God to take something away—and sometimes, He doesn’t."

We don’t know exactly what this thorn was, but Paul describes it as a messenger of Satan, causing him great distress.

Paul prayed three times for God to remove it, yet God’s response was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

God allowed this thorn for a purpose, not to harm Paul, but to humble him and reveal His power through Paul’s weakness.

### **How Do You Handle “No” from God?**

Most of us don’t like hearing the word “no.” We might even feel that it contradicts what Jesus promised:

> *John 14:13-14 (ESV)* – “Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do… If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

Did Paul pray incorrectly? Why wasn’t his prayer answered the way he requested?

Here’s the key: our prayers must be surrendered to the sovereignty of God, who sees beyond what we can see.

The teaching of Jesus and Paul complement each other.

We pray by faith, trusting God’s wisdom, and His sovereign provision. Sometimes, His “no” is an invitation to experience His sufficient grace.

God's "no" is never arbitrary but always purposeful, rooted in His knowledge of what we need for our spiritual growth.

### **God’s Sufficient Grace**

God’s grace wasn’t a denial of Paul’s request—it was a gift.

The grace Paul received allowed him to see that

**God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness**.

What would happen if every struggle we faced instantly disappeared?

We might miss out on the deeper work God is doing in us through our pain.

God’s grace transforms our weaknesses into avenues for His power.

Paul’s pain didn’t vanish, but his perspective shifted.

Instead of seeing the thorn as an obstacle, he recognized it as a place for God’s power to flow through him.

"The ultimate example of weakness transformed into strength is Jesus on the cross.

The world saw His crucifixion as defeat, but it was the moment of His greatest victory.

In the same way, God may use our weakness to show His strength, not to break us, but to reveal His power in us."

### **The Purpose of Pain**

How does God use pain to restore us?

Pain, though unpleasant, serves as a motivator.

It forces us to pause, reflect, and assess our lives.

Paul initially thought his thorn needed to be removed.

But what if God has a purpose for the very thing we think needs to go away?

God’s sufficient grace invites us to step into our weakness, trusting that His power will carry us through.

**Restoration often begins in our broken places**, where we realize our deep need for God’s grace.

Without the pain, we might never pause long enough to seek His restoration.

### **Restoration Requires Cooperation**

God’s grace doesn’t just patch up our wounds; it transforms us.

Restoration requires us to cooperate with God’s work in our lives in three ways:

1. **Steps of Faith:** Restoration comes as we take steps of faith. God is responsible for His promises, but we are responsible for stepping into them.

2. **Choices that Align with God’s Will:** Our steps must align with God’s Word. Straying from His revealed will leads to sorrow, but obedience leads to restoration.

3. **Perseverance in Adversity:** Restoration often comes through perseverance. There are times when we must push through hardship, but there are also times when we must surrender to God’s sufficiency.

### **Surrender to God’s Sufficiency**

Surrendering to God’s grace doesn’t mean giving up or resigning ourselves to defeat.

It means trusting God in our weakness, allowing His strength to be made perfect in us.

Paul’s transformation wasn’t just about surviving his thorn in the flesh; it was about thriving despite it.

He could say, “For the sake of Christ, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.”

The grace-filled restoration of Paul’s life became a testimony to the power of God. His weakness was not a place of shame but of strength—because it pointed to Christ.

### **Conclusion and Application**

So how do we apply this lesson in our lives today?

1. **Pray by faith, but leave the results to God’s sovereignty.** Trust that God’s “no” may lead you to discover a deeper experience of His grace.

2. **When God says “no,” recognize it as an opportunity for Christ’s strength to be made perfect in your weakness.** Instead of running from weakness, lean into God’s sufficiency.

3. **Thank God for your weakness.** It’s counterintuitive, but like Paul, you may discover that it’s in your weakness that you are truly strong—because you’re experiencing the power of Christ.

"As we close today, I want to remind you that restoration is not just about God fixing what's broken—it's about Him transforming our brokenness into something beautiful.

His grace is not just enough to help us survive the thorn; it’s enough to transform our entire lives.

Let’s leave today with this truth in our hearts: when we are weak, then we are strong, because in our weakness, we make room for Christ’s power to be perfect."