Thank you

If you've read some of my earlier posts, you will know one of the final pushes to starting this blog was a sermon at church about Paul.  Well, our pastor is currently in the middle of a series about Paul (or, sorry, Saul), then our Sunday School lesson this week was also about Paul.  I couldn't resist sharing some of these verses from Sunday School and I hope they speak to you like they touched me.

The title of the lesson was "Sickness" and most of the Biblical guidance we got was from letters written by Paul.  I don't think they need a lot of commentary since they all seem to speak for themselves.  I will tell you, though, they continue to persuade me that perhaps God can actually use PCOS as a blessing. (Albeit, perhaps a blessing I still wouldn't have requested!)

2 Corinthians 12:7b-9

7b Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 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.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

9 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. 10 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.

James 1:2-5

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.

Lord, 
I pray that I take pure joy in the weaknesses you have given me because your power is made perfect in weakness.  Thank you for teaching me to fix my eyes on the unseen by surrounding me with godly people who continue to renew my faith in you and remind me to draw near to you.  Father, help me to boast in my weaknesses so it is obvious that any good I may do is not on my own strength, but on your power resting on me.  To you be the glory.