1 Corinthians 12

Our trials and sufferings leave us weak both mentally and physically.
But in them we are made strong in Christ. In the furnace of affliction we are refined into His image. In our weakness His strength shows through us and to others. Does that mean that we seek destruction in our life? No, but it does mean that in our deepest, darkest moments He is there. He will take what was meant to destroy us and turn it to our good and the good of His church. The Father hates pride and He will do whatever it takes to keep it out of our life so that we can walk humbly with Him. Bless His Holy Name!!

12 It is doubtless not profitable for me to boast. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord: 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or whether out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know such a man—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. 5 Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. 6 For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me.

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

11 I have become a fool in boasting; you have compelled me. For I ought to have been commended by you; for in nothing was I behind the most eminent apostles, though I am nothing. 12 Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds. 13 For what is it in which you were inferior to other churches, except that I myself was not burdensome to you? Forgive me this wrong!

14 Now for the third time I am ready to come to you. And I will not be burdensome to you; for I do not seek yours, but you. For the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 15 And I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I am loved.

16 But be that as it may, I did not burden you. Nevertheless, being crafty, I caught you by cunning! 17 Did I take advantage of you by any of those whom I sent to you? 18 I urged Titus, and sent our brother with him. Did Titus take advantage of you? Did we not walk in the same spirit? Did we not walk in the same steps?

19 Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification. 20 For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults; 21 lest, when I come again, my God will humble me among you, and I shall mourn for many who have sinned before and have not repented of the uncleanness, fornication, and lewdness which they have practiced.

The NKJV Study Bible says this: Paul prepared to boast about visions and revelations he received from God, possibly to counter similar claims by the false teachers, but he set them in contrast to the trials he had suffered in his ministry. God permitted Satan to afflict Paul as He did Job. Paul's thorn was a painful, humiliating experience given to prevent pride. When believers are without strength and look to the Lord, He provides power by His grace. In Paul's weaknesses, Christ's power was made more apparent to others. It would bring praise to the only One who deserved it. When Paul established the church in Corinth, he performed the signs of an apostle, miracles or supernatural evidences that proved his authority as an apostle. He promised not to be burdensome, that is, to take financial support from them. He also pointed out that Satan was deceitful and that the false apostles were like Satan. Now he sarcastically echoes his critics' charge that he was being crafty. But how did he trick them? He tricked them into not supporting him. Through sarcasm, Paul was vindicating himself against the charge of both trickery and fraud.