Well content with weakness

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Paul had no ability to deliver himself from the sufferings that accompanied his ministry. He had to trust in God and not in himself. 2Co 1:9. This was his weakness. As Paul joined the Lord in the secret place of prayer, he had access through faith to the grace of God that enabled him to walk the sanctified path that God had predestined for him, however humiliating, frustrating and difficult this was. Rom 5:2. Heb 4:16. As the love of God was poured into his heart by the Holy Spirit, Paul learned to rejoice and boast in his weakness. This was because he recognised that the thorn in the flesh that he experienced was dealing with his pride. More than this, he further recognised that the fruit of his suffering was that others were being strengthened and made complete. 2Co 13:9.

The important point to note is that the frustrating circumstances that God allows in our life are not solely to circumcise our pride and projections from our heart. Paul recognised that the fruit of his sufferings was that the body of Christ was being built up in love, and that others were finding comfort and salvation in his afflictions. Eph 4:16. 2Co 1:6. The Lord desires to lift our eyes from the difficulty of our circumstances to see how we are to serve one another in love, and to be a fully participating body member who is able to build another up. Gal 5:13. 2Co 12:15.

Paul declared that ‘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’. 2Co 12:10. It is clear from Paul’s testimony that we too are to know contentment and settledness in our weakness and abasement, for only then will we be strong in Christ. Php 4:11‑13. 2Co 12:10.

Further Study :
	Philippians 4