Three times I (Paul) pleaded with the Lord about this (affliction), that it should leave me (to heal me). 9 But he said to me (“No”), “My grace (My benevolent personal care for you) is sufficient for you (will enable you to deal with the challenges of your ailment), for my power is made perfect (is displayed in its most complete sense) in weakness (the greater your need, Paul, the greater grace I supply, allowing others to see more of Me and My power through you).” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me (as well as be displayed through me). 10 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 (I have everything I need and can accomplish so much this way). 2 Corinthians 12:8–10 (ESV)
Whenever I am hiking on whatever trail, I often see trees that have been victimized by lightning. I have seen trees reduced to splinters, split in half, stripped of their bark, broken in two and many like the picture cruelly scared.
On a trail at Carlton Hill, NY, there are several HUGE Oak trees in a couple of areas. Some of the Oaks would take 2 to 3 men holding hands to circle their circumference.
They are so tall, so strong and majestic. Some of their limbs are as big as other large trees. They have a rich, full, dark green canopy of leaves. The harvest of acorns they produce cause the squirrels, turkeys and deer to jostle and squabble over the real estate around these giants.
I never got so used to seeing them that I just passed by them thoughtlessly. They ALWAYS attracted my attention and received my admiration.
One early morning walking in one of these areas with my headlamp, I came across a large chunk of tree laying in the trail. As I was pulling it off the trail the horrifying thought hit me, “This is from one of my beloved Oak trees!”
As I turned my headlamp towards the sky, it did not take long to see how lightning had molested this regal tree. It broke my heart… I even remember thinking, “Why this tree, God?”
As the weeks, months and years passed I kept waiting for that sorry looking Oak to die, but you know what? It did not die! It carried on as if nothing had happened! It still stood just as straight and proud, produced a grand gallery of leaves and huge harvest of acorns. It did all this despite the glaring scar along its massive trunk. It was definitely hurt and more vulnerable to disease and insects, but it was not daunted in its regality or purpose.
As year after year passed, I found that this particular Oak that I once looked at with pity and sadness, had without thinking about it, BECOME MY FAVORITE MAJESTIC OAK! It stood as tall and proud as all the other Oaks that didn’t have any scars! Its strength, resilience and determination actually caused it to outshine the others. Even if I see that it dies before the others, it will still be the one I will remember and be affected by the most.
This is why God told Paul that He would not answer his prayer and heal his affliction. God promised Paul that He would care for him in such a way that he would be able to deal with his affliction, whatever it may have been. God was telling Paul that despite the obvious and painful scar, He would help Paul to stand tall and regal in God’s strength. Explaining to Paul that it is through Gospel believers who are willing to serve Him in this way that God is able to display His majesty and power in greater degrees than He can by healing them.
God didn’t say, “No” to Paul to hurt him or out of meanness or neglect. God said, “No” in order to have Paul stand out tall and regal among the others. God wanted to gift Paul with the ministry and blessing of His strength, resilience and determination which, if Paul allowed it, would outshine any and all human attempts to accomplish the same thing. Promising that people would remember and be affected by this man of God, Paul, more than others. And Paul got it! He saw his scar as a window for all to get a glimpse of what the glory of God is and what God can do for them as well.
We know this because of what Paul said in verse ten, 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.
God is not beside us who have scars saying, “You poor, poor thing,” following us as we walk into a deep dark hole. “No!”
God is saying to every gospel believer who has a scar, “My dear, wonderful, child of Mine, I understand your pain, as I too was temped in every way as we are, yet without sinning, (Heb. 4:15), but if you will trust and allow Me, I will help you through the pain and difficulties your scar causes. I will enable you to stand like the mighty, regal Oaks, scar and all. To stand as My humble, precious vessel through which I will pour My might and grace into personally and display this power for all the world to see through you. Promising that as a result, you will be remembered more than most and affect others the best. Will you trust Me?”
Maybe it would be good for us all to go out into the woods or a park around us in search of a tree with a scar, (or place a picture of one on our computer desktop.) Then watch it as it stands tall amongst others with no scar, swaying in the breeze, praising God just as well as any of the others, despite its scar and troubles. Then, whenever we feel we cannot handle the burden of our scar, maybe we can return to that tree we found in order that we might be reminded once again that God says, “I can do the same thing for you; even more!”
Faith Aids 