So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud. Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:7b-10

Dear God, what Paul is speaking here is absolute truth, but even he seems to be unwilling to let us in on what the thorn is. He has his weakness. He says he is glad to boast about his weaknesses, but when it comes down to it, I can’t think of any examples where he actually enumerates his weaknesses. In fact, it’s one of the things that has always made Paul an unattractive biblical character to me—he’s too perfect.

The thing that I’ve noticed is that one of the critical things about sharing your life with others is to be explicit and intentional about sharing your weaknesses. For example, I was talking with a friend last Friday at my class reunion who is also a devoted believer in you. What impressed me about our conversation is that we were both willing to share with each other and encourage each other about some of the failings in ourselves as fathers and husbands. We talked about how our families were not perfect. As I think about it now, we weren’t trying to impress each other, but encourage each other instead.

Father, help me to be less impressive and more encouraging. Help me to be a continuous source of encouragement for others through the explicit sharing of my weaknesses, failures, and reception of your grace. Help me to extend your grace to others. Be glorified in me and glorify your name in the eyes of others. In the end it’s about people experiencing your freedom through the releasing of their secrets, shame and failing, and accepting of your grace. Help me to be a model of that.

In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen