We are all weak. Are you weaknesses frustrations to you, or are they ways that God shows His goodness to you? A weakness isn’t something that you aren’t good at; they speak to a lack or deficiency. Paul in this passage wants us to embrace weakness so that we see we need God. We want to be strong and independent though so we try to hide from the realities of weaknesses. This creates pressures upon ourselves to appear a certain way. Paul instead submitted to the reality of who he was. When we see our weaknesses compared to what we want to be, it can cause bitterness in us if we don’t embrace those weaknesses. Wrestle with the fact of who you really are, not the image or persona others see. Do you see your weakness as an inconvenience or a mistake? Or do you see it as a grace from God to be benefited from? Our thorns are given as gifts. Do you accept those gifts? Thorns reveal our weaknesses so we may rely on God and not ourselves. God tells us that He is sufficient and that He will support us if we willingly accept our weaknesses. God’s strength will be seen and perfected in our weaknesses. We can rejoice in weakness because it leads us to experience the power of God. We do this for the sake of Christ. Self-sufficiency is not the message of the Gospel. Paul gladly boasted in whatever made Christ prominent. God shows us our weaknesses so that His strength can be seen. God wants us to rely upon Him and see that He is working all things for our good. Who will be seen in your life: you, or Christ? Examine your heart--will you embrace your weaknesses seeing that there is a purpose in them? We can be content in weaknesses. Don’t run from them; run to Christ and His strength.