God’s Grace in Time of Testing

Life is a challenge. This truth is universally recognised and accepted by all people. Even Christians are not immune from diseases, heartaches, hardships, distress, insomnia, stress and tension. Paul was no stranger to adversity. In 2 Corinthians: 4-5, He had spoken of his innumerable troubles, hardships, beatings, imprisonments, riots, hard work, sleepless nights and hunger. There is one particular affliction that caused him more pain and grief than all the others combined. He mentions “a thorn in my flesh”. This was real. It was an infirmity, a physical weakness, and a handicap. We do not actually know what Paul’s thorn was other than it was physically painful. But Paul applied the grace of God to his infirmities.

When unpleasant things happen to us, we naturally ask why? Why has God permitted this setback to happen? In Paul’s case, the purpose of his affliction was revealed to him. Paul had been caught up to the third heaven and had heard the things he was not permitted to tell. This unforgettable experience could have caused him to be filled with pride had he been left to himself. God in His infinite wisdom and love for Paul did not leave him exposed to that temptation. He gave Paul a thorn to keep him humble.

Paul tells us that it was given to him. This thorn was a gift from God. Thus, we see that God’s thorns are given to us by Him, though He sometimes allows Satan to deliver them, as He did in the case of Job. Satan undoubtedly wanted to drive a wedge between Paul and the Lord. He wanted Paul to turn against God. But just as God and Satan had different purposes in the affliction of Job, so God and Satan had different reasons for Paul’s thorn in the flesh.

God never allows pain without a purpose in the lives of His children. He allows Satan, or circumstances to afflict us so that we may conform to be like Jesus. Sometimes God’s purpose for allowing pain in our lives is clear. More often it seems, it is not. In fact, frequently a greater part of the pain comes to us without any explanation. God never explained to Job the purpose of his pain. He left Job to suffer in the dark, so to speak. That is usually our experience. Paul said the thorn was given to afflict him. The same verb is used in 1 Corinthians. 4:11 where it is translated as brutally treated. Paul was severely treated by Satan. The apostle Peter said, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour” [1 Peter 5:8]. The devil is cruel and ruthless. He would devour us if he could. He torments us to the full extent God allows. But as

was the case when Joseph’s brothers sold him into slavery, though the devil intended to harm him, God meant it for good [Gen. 50:20]. Paul’s reaction to his thorn was one of deep anguish. It drove him to his knees and made him praise and pray to God.

We are told that Paul prayed about his infirmity. Do you pray about yours? Have you brought your case before the Great Physician? Paul besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from him. He prayed definitely, earnestly and persistently. He tells us that he made his request thrice and after praying three times the thorn still remained. God said, “My grace is sufficient for you.” John Calvin, for example, in his commentary on 2 Corinthians:12:9 said, “Here the word grace means to indicate the help of the Holy Spirit which comes to us from God’s undeserved favour.”

There is always an ample supply of God’s grace. No one ever needs to go without it. But there is only as much as we need and even that is on a day-to-day basis. God doesn’t permit us to store up grace. We must look to Him anew each day for a new supply. Sometimes we must look for a new supply each hour. This thought of God’s ample supply, a day by day supply of grace is beautifully expressed in the first stanza of Lina Sandell Berg’s lovely hymn “Day by Day”.

Day by Day and with each passing moment

Strength I find to meet my trials here.

Trusting in my father’s wise bestowment,

I’ve not cause for worry or for fear.

He whose heart is kind beyond all measure

Gives unto each day what He deems best –

Loving, it’s part of pain and pleasure,

Mingling toil with peace and rest.

God gives us grace from day by day and only as much as we need. From time to time God brings a crisis into our lives. He does this to make us conscious of our human weakness and our dependence upon Him and to experience that His grace is sufficient. Pastor Chua