The Snow White Axiom
I would argue that, as 21st-century Americans, we have been conditioned to accept two axioms: (1) First, strength is developed in isolation—self-made individuals are to be admired. How many stories do you know of people who reached the top of their field with no help from anyone? Impressive, right? (2) Second, the pinnacle of life, our main aspiration, is to live happily ever after. No one likes a bad ending. Yet, when you read the Bible, many people face dire consequences, including being stoned to death for their faith in Jesus.
A recent example of these cultural axioms is the movie Snow White. The original animated classic from 1937 helped launch Disney. In recent years, the studio has made a habit of creating live-action remakes of its classics while reimagining their stories. This particular film received criticism due to public statements made by its star, Rachel Zegler, and changes to the narrative. Snow White no longer needs saving; instead, she leads a “kindness revolution” to overthrow the evil queen! And of course, there is a happily ever after, even if it’s different from the original.
If you’ve been watching the House of David series on Amazon, another prime example is King Saul. He is obsessed with his own strength, but the Lord abandons him, leaving him tormented in isolation. He is portrayed as a strong king, yet it is David, the shepherd boy, who bravely faces the giant Goliath—and, spoiler alert, David wins! His victory comes because he understands that the battle belongs to the Lord!
This raises important questions: Where does our strength come from? From ourselves or from God? Are we guaranteed a “happily ever after” life free from persecution? When we confront our giants, the prophet Zechariah offers comforting words: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”
The Bible tells a different story. It is a narrative of divine rescue, where God reaches down to us—weak sinners—and saves us from ourselves. True strength, then, comes from reliance on God’s grace. We are not strong … we are weak … and when we are weak … we are strong. Paul expresses this in 2 Corinthians 12:10:
“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Cor. 12:10)
Friends, resilient weakness is cultivated when we learn to embrace our vulnerabilities.
Ironically, leaning into our weaknesses provides a strong foundation for life. How can you foster resilient weakness in your own life? As a culmination of Paul’s argument in chapters 10 and 11, he urges us to examine our tendency to boast. The fruit of resilient weakness arises from three key actions: (1) Diagnose the ILLNESS. (2) Drink the MEDICINE. (3) Proclaim the CURE. We must put an end to boasting about OUR strength and instead thrive by embracing our weaknesses.
Diagnose The Illness
2 Cor. 12:1 continues Paul’s argument from chapter 11, where he concluded with a discussion on boasting. However, he isn’t finished yet. We read:
This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. (2 Cor. 12:1, NLT)
Read that verse again. Paul has been engaged in a sarcastic critique since chapter 11, verse 21. He mocks the “super apostles” that Pastor Dave mentioned. His strategy resembles a competitive boasting match, much like the famous song from Annie Get Your Gun: “Anything you can do I can do better, I can do anything better than you!”
What issue is Paul addressing here? He is carefully rebuking the spiritual boasting of the Corinthians and offering a gentle admonition to us as well. You may feel offended by my suggestion that you have an issue. “What do you mean, Pastor Bob—I’m not sick … how dare you?” I humbly encourage you to examine your heart and ask: Do I have a boasting problem? If you believe you don’t have a problem, beware. Self-deception can easily blind us; we may think we are doing something good when, in fact, it is a sickness. Acknowledging the illness is the first step toward finding the cure.
Maybe a second question to consider is this: What is motivating my boasting? We can boast about worldly things—such as our careers, money, or education. Our motivation might stem from a desire for acceptance or a need to please others. We can also boast about spiritual matters—like the length of our prayer time, our ability to memorize Bible verses, or the number of service hours we contribute. We must examine our motivations and ensure they do not stem from a mindset of works-righteousness. Our works do not save us; we still need God’s grace. All of us suffer from a spiritual sickness and require a Savior.
If you’ve never read these verses before, you might find them a bit confusing. Why is Paul using such complex spiritual language? What illness is he addressing? To clarify, let’s look back at verse 1 in the ESV translation:
I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it. (2 Cor. 12:1, ESV)
There is nothing to be gained by boasting. That is the issue. Many people mistakenly believe that boasting is the solution. Our 21st-century culture encourages us to brag about various aspects of our lives—our careers, our children, our cars, our future plans, our degrees, our intelligence or business skills, and our talents. We are often conditioned to think, in our hearts, that when someone shares their accomplishments, we should respond with, “Anything you can do … I can do better!”
Let me clarify, competition itself isn’t inherently bad—it can motivate us to improve and excel in our God-given callings. However, if we are constantly boasting… it resembles a bad first date. Have you ever experienced one of those? You go to dinner with someone you think you’ll really like, but then they start talking. For two hours, all they discuss is themselves, their opinions, and their achievements. Not once do they ask you a genuine question about yourself. That’s the kind of boasting that Paul is warning us about.
Drink The Medicine
Just because you can boast—let me gently remind you—doesn’t mean you should. Instead, your entire life—all your skills and talents—should direct others to the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Now that Paul has set the stage, he shares his own experience with this treatment:
Even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. 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. 2 Cor. 12:7, NLT
The context of this statement is important. Paul wants to prevent anyone from thinking he is more than human or more spiritual than those around him; he openly acknowledges his own struggles and humanity. However, this profound spiritual experience comes with a cost: it makes him vulnerable to pride. God knows the remedy he needs. What does He do?
He gives Paul a thorn in the flesh, a well-known verse. What is this thorn in the flesh? Many commentators have explored this topic, so let’s delve into it. First, recognize that this thorn was actively given to Paul. Did God directly give it to him? That remains uncertain. Second, the Greek word for thorn is SKOLOPS, which refers to something pointed. And no, I am not talking about scallops … I mean SKOLOPS! This term has various meanings: it can refer to a stake in the ground, a thorn, a surgical instrument, or a fishhook. Most commentators believe it refers to some form of physical or emotional ailment. The ambiguity in the text makes it difficult to pinpoint—it could be persecution, troublesome people, spiritual snares, or carnal temptations.[1]
Regardless of what the SKOLOPS was, it caused torment in Paul’s life. The Greek text suggests that this was not a one-time issue but rather a persistent struggle with this adversary. He was being plagued, like a schoolyard bully lurking nearby. Commentator David Garland observes that “the verb ‘to torment’ implies humiliating violence—being slapped around; and the present tense suggests that it was persistent—something that happens over and over again”[2]
What about Satan? Is this truly his messenger? It is certainly possible that Satan intended this for evil in Paul’s life, but God transformed it into something good. What was the positive outcome? It prevented Paul from becoming proud. The ESV states it kept him from becoming conceited. Sometimes, suffering can serve as the remedy for our tendency to boast.
It reminds us that we build resilience through our weaknesses. So let me ask you: What is your thorn in the flesh? At some point in our lives, we all have one. The various possibilities for Paul’s thorn are certainly relevant to us: What is your thorn? Perhaps you struggle with a chronic medical condition that causes you constant pain. Maybe it involves a difficult person; today, we might call such individuals a “pain in the neck.” In ancient times, they would have been referred to as “a thorn in the side.” Your thorn likely represents ongoing suffering.
Is it possible to view this thorn in the flesh as a form of medicine from God? Is it teaching you about your weaknesses? Is it leading you to rely on God? Maybe it serves as a reminder that our pride is getting the better of us. I propose that our thorns, whatever they may be, are acts of God’s mercy and grace. They are, in a sense, medicine. Take a moment to reflect on this: What if God wants you to Drink the Thorns to find healing? It may sound painful, but we must embrace it. I challenge you today to embrace the thorns that God has allowed in your life.
Proclaim The Cure
This is the kind of struggle in which we can boast … in our weakness … about God’s power. Yet, during this process, it’s natural to plead, “Lord … take it away! Take it away! Take the medicine away! It’s too painful!” In the Garden of Gethsemane, on Thursday night of Holy Week, what did Jesus pray? “Lord … let this cup pass from me. Yet not my will … but your will be done.” Even Jesus asked His Father to remove His suffering! But He ultimately submitted to the Father’s plan. Paul writes,
Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 2 Corinthians 12:8, NLT
Take it away, Lord! Whatever this thorn was, it was excruciating. Can you relate? This brings us back to our earlier discussion: we always want a happily ever after. When we don’t get our version of a “happily ever after,” we assume something is wrong. We resist suffering. Yet, if we don’t face resistance and build our spiritual muscles—like the trees in Biosphere 2—we risk toppling over. To cultivate resilience in our lives, we must embrace the answer God gives Paul in verse 9. Here we return to our starting point:
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.(2 Cor. 12:9, NLT)
“My grace is all you need.” Other translations say, “My grace is sufficient for you.” The word “Need/Sufficient” comes from the Greek word ARKEO, which means to satisfy with the sense of being enough. “The promise is that whenever the messenger of Satan afflicts him, he will be given sufficient strength to bear up.”[1] No matter your tormentor, God’s grace is enough to satisfy you. It is sufficient.
Do you believe that God’s grace is sufficient for you? Do you believe that His grace is all we need? I would suggest that most of us don’t. In some evangelical circles, there’s a belief that God should guarantee us a happy life—a happily ever after. But that’s not what the Bible promises; God promises grace in the midst of hardship.
Some believe we have to do more, be more, earn more, achieve more … God is most glorified when we are powerful. Is that what Paul says? No. God’s power works best in weakness. Let’s personalize that and say it together: God’s power works best in my weakness. Do you believe that? Paul states, “I will gladly boast about my weaknesses … so that the power of Christ can work through me.” Look how Paul concludes:
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 Cor. 12:10, NLT)
When I am weak, then I am strong. This is a countercultural message, my friends. The world tells us, “If I am not strong and put together, I am weak.” However, God’s Word presents a different perspective. He says, “I can’t use people like that because they don’t think they need me.” Do you recognize your need for God today?
Three Questions
I’d like to offer you three diagnostic questions to reflect on during your prayer time this week. Approach the Lord and ask Him these honest questions, and He will reveal your heart’s needs.
First, am I sick? Many of us suffer from a boasting disease. We believe that to be liked, accepted, and successful, we must engage in boasting. What many fail to realize is that this behavior shows we are relying on ourselves rather than on God. Once you acknowledge your sickness, you can move on to the next question.
Second, do I have the correct prescription? If you don’t diagnose the disease accurately, you won’t seek the right treatment. For instance, I should not undergo chemotherapy if I don’t have a condition that requires it. Similarly, I shouldn’t take Motrin for a simple stomachache. Spiritually speaking, if you have a boasting problem, you need to recognize that you require a humility prescription. You need the Gospel. Now, one more question…
Have I told others about the cure? After you embrace the Gospel, you will experience joy like never before. Even amidst trials and hardships, you will possess resilience and stamina. You will know your direction and feel compelled to share this cure with others.
Is that you today? Have you experienced the Gospel cure? If not, you may not even realize that you are sick. Diagnose the Illness. Drink the Medicine. Proclaim the Cure. Only then will you cultivate resilient weakness in your life.
[1] Linda L. Belleville, 2 Corinthians, vol. 8, The IVP New Testament Commentary Series (Westmont, IL: IVP Academic, 1996), 2 Co 12:7–10.
[1] Ibid, 12:7-10.
[2] David E. Garland, 2 Corinthians, vol. 29, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 522.
