Clays and Thorns

We have been on a journey of grace that has been all-encompassing for us over the last several weeks.

We’ve come to recognize this journey as an invitation to get close to Jesus, to walk with him, grow, be transformed, and be commissioned to serve him in this world.

We’ve talked about the grace that goes before us, making a way for us...We’ve talked about the saving grace of God that holistically changes us...We’ve talked about the sanctifying grace of God that empowers us to live faithfully, even when our best efforts and good intentions seem to fail us.

We’ve talked about sustaining grace, the grace that keeps us moving forward on the path we’ve been called to so that our life of faith isn’t a sprint but a marathon. And we’ve celebrated Grace as the gift of God’s favor toward us. God’s Grace is the gift that changes everything.

Grace makes all things new.

Except when it doesn’t...I know what you’re thinking: I thought we were celebrating? Yes! We have much to celebrate....but we must also allow for the times when Grace in the way we understand it eludes us.

You see if we aren’t careful, we can translate grace into a form of spiritual invincibility, or turn suffering in this world into something trivial—or, worse yet, start to assume that if we’re living in grace then whatever suffering we encounter, we can just pray it away.

I remember when I prayed intensely for the healing of my sister and my mom from cancer…and the disappointment I had when they died.

We have all experienced something where we simply could not pray it away...However...Even when the rough and tumble times of life seem to be kicking us around Grace is still at work.

Paul shares this in today’s passage....The Message...

2 Corinthians 12:6–10 The Message

6 If I had a mind to brag a little, I could probably do it without looking ridiculous, and I’d still be speaking plain truth all the way. But I’ll spare you. I don’t want anyone imagining me as anything other than the fool you’d encounter if you saw me on the street or heard me talk. 7 Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! 8 At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, 9 and then he told me, My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. 10 Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.

We Don’t know what this thorn/handicap was for Paul…there is a lot of speculation as to what this was…was it a continual temptation that followed Paul, was it depression, or was it physical? There are some that refer to Paul’s eye condition which scripture talks briefly about.

Whatever it was Paul continually prayed for God to take it away…in fact Paul is very specific in saying he asked God 3 times to remove it but God did not.

God did not chastise Paul for asking again and again—three times in all. Nevertheless, once Paul had a sense of God’s answer, he stopped begging. God invites us to ask repeatedly, like the persistent widow of Jesus’ parable (Luke 18:1–8). But there is also a time when we must accept God’s answer and rely on His strength in our weakness.

Schenck, K. (2006). 1 & 2 Corinthians: a commentary for Bible students (p. 326). Indianapolis, IN: Wesleyan Publishing House.

Sometimes we end up like Paul, with a thorn that we can’t pray away.

We like Paul are often confronted with personal hurdles…we beg God for removal of our own thorns but just like Paul God often times does not remove them.

That does not make us less faithful nor does it make God less compassionate…nor is it a sign of an absence of Grace .

In fact it is the opposite: When the mental health crisis persists, When the person we prayed for dies, or When we still lose our job...it is in those moments we have the opprotunity to experience a peace, or calm in the presence of Grace. (This is not something God does to us)

Living in a fallen world means we will have weakness....but this passage reminds us that in our weakness we find can find the strength of Grace.

Grace Doesn’t Grace doesn’t remove the memories. Grace doesn’t exempt us from the damage. Grace doesn’t extract the sorrow. Grace doesn’t resolve our fragility.

Grace Does Grace does reframe our stories…From victim to overcomer Grace does work in the cracks…provides the glue to hold it together. Grace does deepen intimacy....brings comfort in the deepest of grief Grace does reveal its source....The enemy seeking to devour you.

I am not trying to make light of your thorns or difficulties with cliche...but the truth is that when we come to a place were we accept that whatever we are dealing with is not going away it is then that we can experience the strength of God’s Grace to power us through.

Instead of suffering in the moment wondering where God is our why God seem to be deaf to our Prayer we have the opprotunity to allow God’s grace to power us through.

What do you deed power to get through today?

It is well with my soul James for personal reflection not congregational singing

I can think of no bette way to celebrate the strength of God’s grace than communion.