Weakness.
Weaknesses are flaws. They remind us that we have areas to improve. These weaknesses can be potential areas for people to hurt us. Paul’s perspective is different. The areas of weakness allow God to be revealed. The areas of failure are the very places where God’s grace and strength shines through. Whatever Paul’s thorn in the flesh, God used that weakness to demonstrate His strength. Paul did not want his weakness. He begged God to take it away, but God used it for His glory. We do not like our weaknesses. People exploit these areas leaving us defenseless. God sees our weaknesses as areas of dependence. In our successes we may feel that God is not needed. It is in our failures that we turn to God expressing our need for his strength. As much as we may despise our weaknesses, these are the very areas where we see God at work. Let’s open our eyes to God’s strength in times of failure.