From Affliction To Acceptance

by Merchant, Paul | Category: Disability And Dignity | Nov 1999

The most famous Christian in the New Testament had a disability. He travelled thousands of miles, shared the gospel at every opportunity, founded churches across Asia and was a prolific letter writer. The apostle Paul achieved all this despite having been given what he describes as 'a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me' (2 Cor. 12:7). Paul had become disabled at some time during the previous fourteen years (2 Cor. 12:2).

There have been many suggestions about what the 'thorn' might have been. It could have been a recurrent fever (Gal. 4:13); the injuries suffered at his stoning at Lystra (Acts 14:19); poor recovery after his escape from the riot in Ephesus from which he barely came out alive (2 Cor. 1:8); a speech impediment (2 Cor. 10:1-10; 11:6); or his sight might have been affected (Gal. 6:11).

The reason

Although it restricted his service, it did not hinder his work for God. Paul prayed repeatedly for his freedom from the affliction. God gave Paul the answer he needed rather than what he wanted. God's reason was that his disability was directly linked to the visions and revelations God had shown him. Those special revelations were precious to Paul. But the Lord knew how the temptations of pride lay around the corner. Wonder and weakness were connected. God took him from awe to affliction.

The reaction

Some disciples in the Corinthian Church mocked his disability. They thought he was out of his mind, a poor speaker and not really an apostle at all (2 Cor. 5:13; 10:10; 12:11,12). They denigrated his personality and devalued his work. They saw the disability and not the person. Paul's concern about such attitudes, and further need to correct doctrinal error and wrong conduct, doubtless all weighed with Paul in deciding to make a third visit to Corinth (2 Cor. 12:11-21).

The response

Paul uses strong words to describe its effect on him. It tormented him, it was a messenger of Satan and he pleaded three times to have it removed. But in the Lord's response he realized that his physical restrictions were less of a disability in God's eyes than to be disabled in service by becoming a conceited, proud Christian. God did not perform a miracle to remove his affliction. The disability was permitted into his life in order to mould him to become more like Christ. God valued character more than physical normality. God was tough to make him tender.

Joni Eareckson Tada has been quadriplegic since a teenage diving accident and in her Christian ministry she reflects on the years spent in her wheelchair, 'Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart (1 Sam. 16:7). God is most concerned about who we are on the inside. My disability is his hedge around me, pressing me in and forcing me, not to be introspective but at least to be inward - to make certain that patience, endurance, tolerance, steadfastness, self control - that these are the things blossoming forth as a result of my disability. This is God's perspective and sometimes He is most concerned about our inward character rather than our outward circumstances' (1).

God does not exempt His children from adversity. In the severe examples of Paul and Joni we see how over the years their particular restrictions have brought hope out of despair, strength out of weakness. 'I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong' (2 Cor. 12:10).

(1). New Christian Herald, 17.1.98, p.10.

Biblical quotations are from the NIV.

Merchant, Paul | Nov 1999
Disability And Dignity