Thank you for the interpretative question and application on II Corinthians 12:10, “What are your thoughts on the Bible verse 2 Corinthians 12:10?”
As I read II Corinthians 12:7–10, the Apostle Paul is making an astonishing declaration that contradicts our responses to trials and tribulations. The trials and tribulations in one’s life are opportunities for God to manifest his grace and power through that person’s life.
The Apostle Paul says this in II Corinthians 12, “5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. 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. 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” (A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages).
Our human tendency when we face trials and tribulation is to “fix” it ourselves. We use our analysis, pondering our alternatives, looking at our resources to resolve our difficulties, seeking counsels from others, and looking for any edge to get ourselves out of the predicament we find ourselves in. We look to ourselves for the solutions and only when we are absolutely helpless that one may pray to God for help. No one wants hardships or trials. We want the blessings of God, not the hardships of God.
The Apostle Paul writes if I may paraphrase his words that if we want to experience God in our lives, then we must become helpless and powerless. If we want to see something more than ourselves, then one must rely on God than on oneself.
When one is unjustly treated, the human tendency is to curse the other person instead the Apostle Paul began to see it as an opportunity to show the grace of God to the undeserving. He is reminded to bless than to curse. When one is under duress and stress when others would moan and complain, it was an opportunity to praise God and to trust God to see how he would work in the situation. He learned to be still and know that He is God. The people will see his trust in God and see the mysterious way that God would work in his behalf. Even in persecution, in imprisonment, the Apostle Paul saw it as an opportunity to share his faith with prisoners and with the guards. Paul saw in whatever circumstances that he found himself in was an opportunity to be a witness of the grace and power of God. In his weakness, God was to demonstrate his power so that all can see that it was not Paul who got himself out of his mess. It was God who delivered him.
One can’t but help think of Daniel and Daniel’s three friend who entrusted themselves to God and to allow God to work in way that may be mysterious and awesome to those who saw the result of God’s grace and power.
SUMMARY: The believer’s weaknesses are opportunities for God to demonstrate his grace and power in that person’ life.
For more perspectives:
https://www.quora.com/What-are-your-thoughts-on-the-Bible-verse-2-Corinthians-12-10