2 Corinthians 12:9
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Paul describes a persistent "thorn in the flesh" and God's refusal to remove it, teaching him to depend on grace rather than self-sufficiency.
What Does 2 Corinthians 12:9 Mean?
In one sentence: God's grace is enough for every weakness, and His power actually shows up most clearly where we are weakest. Paul had begged God three times to remove a "thorn"; the answer was not removal but sufficient grace.
God's strength is "made perfect" -- brought to its full purpose -- in weakness, because then the power is plainly His and not ours. So Paul reframes weakness as the very place Christ's power rests on him.
In the Original Language
The Greek "charis" (grace) is God's unmerited favor and help. "Arkeo" (sufficient) means to be enough. "Dynamis" (strength/power) is the power of God at work.
Cross References
Application
Stop despising your weaknesses; bring them honestly to God as the very place His grace is sufficient and His power is displayed.