Amy McDonaugh, a 34-year-old mother of three who is completely blind in her right eye and has severely impaired vision in her left eye, fought off 1,775 competitors to win the Flying Pig Marathon—a popular and enjoyable race. Participating in only her fourth contest, McDonaugh not only beat her fellow runners, but she also showed that her physical challenge would not stop her from doing something remarkable.

Almost 2 millennia prior to Amy rising above her “thorn in the flesh” and crossing the finish line in first place, the apostle Paul offered a powerful perspective about his own thorn. When Paul’s opponents (false apostles) boasted of their knowledge and visions to prove their superior apostleship, Paul felt a need to challenge them with his own revelations—ones which surpassed any that the false apostles had recounted (2 Corinthians 12:1-6). To prevent Paul from becoming too proud about these revelations, God had sent him a thorn in his flesh (2 Corinthians 12:7).

What was this thorn? Some suggest that it was an eye disease or a speech impediment, false apostles or opponents in the church, or troubling demonic activity. Paul asked God three times to remove it, but He refused. This denial turned out to be for Paul’s greater good and God’s greater glory. Paul gained this perspective from his weakness: God delights in displaying His power where human strength is weak. And as Paul took delight in his thorn, blessings from God came his way (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).

What about you? Has the presence of thorns (weaknesses) and God’s refusal to remove them discouraged you? Be encouraged! We can find comfort and security in the truth that God’s grace is enough to sustain and strengthen us in our weaknesses. Because His grace is enough, we can rejoice in our thorns, stand strong in His power, and experience His glory in our lives.

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Joshua 4:1-24