I BESOUGHT THE LORD THRICE

Today’s reading gives a rare insight into Paul’s personal life and experience of God. It also deals with that difficult subject apparently unanswered prayer (i.e., prayer not answered the way we would like!).

Paul admits to an experience of being ‘caught up’. It gave him an insight into the glories and counsels of God which never left him. His being ‘caught up’ was illustrative of the rapture of the church.

Having had this experience, which might have caused even a man of Paul’s spiritual stature to boast, God intervened. It is amazing how God seems to deal hardest with those who are nearest to Him. What responsibilities privileges bring! Hence, to Paul was given ‘a thorn in the flesh’ - physical; ‘the messenger of Satan’ - mental; ‘I besought the Lord thrice’ - spiritual. Experiences in every realm of his being, which militated against what he would naturally desire. The Lord was working to keep this great man humble and dependent on Him.

How significant that the Lord had a crown of thorns, and that Satan attacked Him constantly; and that in the Garden He prayed three times, each time accepting ‘not my will but thine be done’. His experiences will always supersede ours, which makes Him our ideal Great High Priest.

But Paul knew what it was to pray for relief from obvious physical discomfort, and he knew what it was for God to over rule that prayer. He didn’t accept this negatively; rather, he appreciated the positive consequence that God’s grace was more than sufficient to enable him to cope with the situation. The floodtide of God’s grace took him above the problem of the thorn that must remain with him. He was prepared to accept God’s strength in his weakness: more, he was prepared to ‘glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me’. Prayer enables us to enter into God’s ways with us and see how He wants to work His purpose through us to His glory and our blessing. Hence, submission to His will helps us prove, ‘when I am weak, then am I strong’.