A Thought About Joy in Affliction: A Gift of God's Grace

In 2 Corinthians 11:24-27 Paul tells us of his affliction.
Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.   Three times I was beaten with rods, once I  was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers. I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.

Some how Paul accepted all the suffering he endured and still remained joyful. This was only possible by the grace of God.

In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 we see that Paul pleaded with God to remove what he believed was a messenger from Satan, sent to torment him. He then tells us of the Lord’s response:
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from 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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 
Paul was hated by his own people, he was beaten black and blue numerous times, he knew not only what it was to be deprived of the comforts of life but even the bare necessities.

Strength in weakness is one of the themes running through Paul’s writings.  He was able to endure the hardships that threatened him because he was so confident in the strength and Spirit of Christ. Through the trials he learned many ‘strength in weakness’ lessons over and over again.

Some days I too feel as though I have had my fair share of ‘strength in weakness’ experiences: illness, emotional shipwrecks, loss of loved ones, inadequacies in ministry, financial pressures, other hardships of  life, etc., and in the middle of many of those circumstances I have wondered where God really is. Sometimes he just seems to have left me behind. Abandoned me to my fate and I can’t find him anywhere.  There have even been times when I have wearied of even searching for him.

When this happens I need to remember to rest in the prayers of others. I need to pay attention to the signs of grace, however small they may be and remember that they are around if I care to see them. Sometimes it may come through a caring friend with a listening ear; a gentle hug from a child or a kind word of encouragement from a stranger.  As the situation eases I realize that God’s love and grace is indeed sufficient. God’s strength lifts me up and restores my soul.

We have all suffered. We have all experienced thorns of one type or another. We have probably all had a shipwreck or two along the way. When I am on my knees day and night in humility before God; when I am waiting for his touch and when I can learn the lessons that suffering has to teach, I realize that gratitude is the only response.  His grace is sufficient - and it really is God’s greatest gift.