Re:Verse reading 2 Corinthian 12:1-10 (day seven)
Paul asking for relief in 2 Corinthians 12:8,
“Concerning this (thorn) I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me.”
which sounds an awful lot like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane,
“And He (Jesus) withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and He knelt down and began to pray, saying, ‘Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me;’” (Luke 22:41-42)
which sounds an awful lot like us asking God for a different way. When we pray these same prayers of concern walking through difficult circumstances we are in good company. Where we begin to distance ourselves from them though, is in our response to God’s “no”.
When God told both, “no” they responded,
“not my will but yours be done” (Lk 22:42) and
“most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9)
How do we respond when God says, “no”?
God says “no” sometimes just like loving and caring parents do. I think we just have to remember God’s goodness when He chooses to say “no” and focus on Him instead of on our expectations or our problems.
Remembering His goodness will allow us to place our confidence and trust in Him and in His Words, knowing that His ways are always good, even though our situation is really bad!