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. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 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. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 NKJV

Some translations of 2 Corinthians 12:7 say the thorn was given to Paul to prevent him from being puffed up with pride. But would Satan actually send something to us to keep us from sinning? No. Satan saw the sphere of influence in Paul’s ministry was rising above that of anyone who had previously existed on the earth. Satan wanted to stop the spreading of the gospel. To accomplish this, he sent all types of persecution against Paul in an attempt to wear Paul down so he would give up the ministry God had called him to. And Satan came close to succeeding. Three times Paul said, “Lord, take this from me,” and the Lord’s response was, “My grace is sufficient for you.” Paul had to agree with the Lord. He agreed the Word, the promises of God, were sufficient, and the Holy Spirit was sufficient to endure the temptations and trials of his life. He realized when he was at his weakest, the power of God could work through him and make him strong.

God took the circumstances and pressures of Paul’s life and used them to cause Paul’s ministry to be exalted above anything Satan ever thought possible. Satan tried to stop Paul’s ministry through pressure and trials, but that very tool caused Paul to rise up in greater power and strength because of his dependence upon the Lord.

Your greatest advancements come during your greatest trials. In the midst of pressure, you may be tempted to cry out, “God, get me out of this!” But God has given you the assurance of His Word that His grace is sufficient for anything you may face in your life.

We should not look for trouble, but the next time it rears its ugly head we can boldly declare, “If God be for me, who can be against me? I’m part of the Church and Jesus said the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church. It is not me, Satan. It is Jesus in me Who has already defeated you!”

Satan sends circumstances against us to try to defeat us, but it is not the trial or the problem or the tribulation which makes us stronger; it is the faith we use in the midst of our circumstances that makes us stronger. It is like weightlifting. The first week you begin lifting weights - every morning you wake up sore because you are putting pressure on muscles and using them more than you normally do. But eventually, you become stronger and the pressure that once resulted in pain, has worked to produce strength. The same principle is true in the kingdom of God.

The phrase, “…lest I should be exalted above measure,” in Greek is written in the middle voice. The middle voice means a person is doing something for his or her own benefit. This verse could be better translated, “Lest my ministry should rise up to greater heights than ever before, Satan sent a messenger to buffet me.” Jesus is still in the delivering business. Whether it is instant deliverance from sin, healing of our body, or standing with us in the midst of pressures and trials to cause us to be stronger, He is the Deliverer!