For Kids · 4 min with a grown-up
2 Corinthians is a letter Paul wrote to help God's family love God and love each other.
In this part, Paul learns that being weak is not something to hide — it's a place where God shows up strong.
Today's Story
Paul had a problem. We don't know exactly what it was — maybe his body hurt, or something made his days really hard. The Bible just calls it a “thorn,” like a sharp little sticker that pokes you and won't come out.
It bothered Paul a lot. So he prayed and asked God to take it away.
God did not take it away.
So Paul prayed again. And again. Three times he begged, “Please, God, make this go away.”
And God answered him. But not the way Paul expected. God said, “My grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.”
Paul thought about that. He realized something wonderful. When he was strong all by himself, people just saw Paul. But when he was weak, and God helped him anyway, people got to see God.
So Paul stopped being sad about his weak places. “Okay then,” he said. “When I am weak, that's actually when I am strong — because that's when God's power gets to shine right through me.”
A Big Word
Memory Verse
Talk About It
- Is there something that feels too hard or too big for you right now? What is it?
- Paul asked God three times and God still said no. Have you ever wanted something and God answered a different way? How did that feel?
- What does it mean that God can be strong even when we feel weak and small?