2 Corinthians 10:3-5 & 2 Corinthians 12:7-10: Living in the Strength of Jesus

2 Corinthians 10:3-5 & 2 Corinthians 12:9: Living in the Strength of Jesus

Again, sorry for the poor-quality photo, but these are two great passages I wanted to share. These two portions of scripture aren't related, they just both happen to be on the same journaling page.

I will explore spiritual warfare in greater depth when we get to Ephesians, so for now, please read the below portion and pray for spiritual protection as you walk with the Lord.  Jesus will send His angels to help you battle the strongholds of Satan.  Note the last phrase; it is an active decision to recognize when our thoughts are wrong and correct them before we follow through with bad actions. The Holy Spirit will always give us strength to walk away and do the right thing. (1 Corinthians 10:13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.)

(2 Corinthians 10:3-5) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

As I was beginning to write this new paragraph, I just realized that these two portions of scripture are actually related! They both have to do with living in the strength of Jesus.  The verses in chapter 10 revolve around letting the Holy Spirit be your strength to walk away from doing the wrong things, while the below verses focus on physical strength.

If you don't mind, I am going to get a bit personal.  Since at least 2018, I have been battling an unknown neurological condition.  I will not list all my symptoms but in a small nutshell, I suffer from weakness in varying stages from head to toe. Beginning in late 2019, I finally found a doctor who wanted to try to get to the bottom of my illness.  Unfortunately, she was not a neurologist, and the specialist that I saw off and on from 2019-2022 eventually gave up on trying to come up with a diagnosis and released me from his care. I still do not have a title for my condition, but it matches all the symptoms of (and considering the lesions in my brain, it probably is) Multiple Sclerosis.  

On top of dealing with a long list of neurological symptoms, in 2023 I had two surgeries to remove two cancerous tumors from my body, as well as a complete abdominal hysterectomy, lymph node dissection, and had my omentum removed (layer of tissue that covers abdominal organs).  I praise God these tumors were diagnosed as synchronous ovarian and endometrial cancers, which means they were supposedly independent of each other, and both were considered to be stage 1.  It was, however, a painful and frightening process to go through.  I should have stayed in the hospital for at least a week but talked them into releasing me on day five.

In chapter 12, Paul mentions that he has been dealing with a thorn in his flesh that he had repeatedly asked God to remove.  We do not know what this issue was.  Some say it was persecution while others think it was a physical ailment, which is what I tend to believe, but we do not know for certain.  Perhaps it was both issues. What we do know is that God would not release Paul from this thorn, but instead empowered Paul with His strength to endure the trials so that the name of Jesus could be glorified.   

Through all my thorns (including the emotional ones), 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 has become another one of my favorite verses (last two sentences below), along with Psalm 73:26 (My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.), Nehemiah 8:10 (The joy of the Lord is your strength.), and Philippians 4:13 (I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.)  These verses are not just empty words to me, but are my strength, joy, and hope.  

Whether stuck inside an MRI listening to the head-splitting clanging and banging sounds (I have had 5 MRIs, an uncountable number of CT scans and blood panels, and even a failed - long story- lumbar puncture), or laying on an operating table knowing that when I wake up, I will be in a lot of pain, or waiting for the results to see what stage cancer I had, I truly was and still am able to find joy and peace in the Lord's strength.

If what I have gone and may still go through helps encourages even one person to put their trust in the Lord and brings glory to the name of Jesus, it is all worth it!

Earlier this month, while dealing with another wave of extreme weakness, pain, and fatigue, I had a vision of God placing His hand on my heart and telling me to take His hand.  He said that no matter what was wrong with me, that He was with me and that I would be okay.  With tears streaming, I grasped His fingers and held tight.  No matter what I face, I will cling to His promise to continue to be by my side. Even when not physically fine, I am whole in mind and spirit. Since that experience, I am continually reminded to hold to God's hand and never let go because He will always be my strength. I pray you allow Him to be yours as well.

(2 Corinthians 12:7-10) And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

And He said unto me, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.