Many have claimed to know what Paul’s affliction was, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. Because others wrote for him and he said people would pluck out their eyes and give them to him, some think Paul was going blind. Why is it not important to determine the nature of his affliction in order to understand his plight?
To protect me from thinking too highly of myself in the abundance of revelations, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan sent to keep me humble. I prayed at three different times for the Lord to remove my affliction. But God said no. “My grace is sufficient,” he said. “In your weakness, your dependence upon me makes you strong.” Therefore, I will boast of this affliction if it makes the power of Jesus Christ alive in me. — 2 Corinthians 12:7–9 The Discussion Bible
Faith often begins with a simple conviction: God can. But Scripture presses us further—toward a deeper, more difficult place: Do we trust whatever God chooses to do? True believing is not merely confidence in God’s ability. It’s surrender to his will.
When “He Can” Becomes “He Should”
Many people do well to approach God like the man who said, “If you are willing, you can make me clean” (Matthew 8:2). Humility in that prayer recognizes both Christ’s power and his authority to decide. But somewhere along the way, that attitude can change.
We begin to think If he can… to believing He should… to saying He must… because he promised. And when he doesn’t do what we asked or claimed, confusion sets in. What went wrong?
Consider the apostle Paul’s “thorn in the flesh.” Paul knew God could remove it. He asked three times for God to do exactly that. What was his response when the answer was no?
I take pleasure in weakness, insults, and hardships. Persecuted, frustrated, suffering for Christ’s sake, I am thankful for my weakness that makes me strong in him (2 Corinthians 12:10).
Paul’s faith matured when he stopped measuring God’s goodness by outcomes and began trusting God’s good purpose in whatever he chooses to do or not do.
Alignment, Not Persuasion
Sometimes we can be tempted to use prayer as a means of persuasion—trying to move God toward our will. But Jesus taught us to pray: May your Kingdom come and your will be done, on Earth as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6:10). Faith isn’t bending heaven toward earth. It’s aligning our hearts with God’s choice for the moment, knowing much greater glories lie ahead. This is why Paul writes: We are truly rich when we have learned contentment in using for good whatever God provides (1 Timothy 6:6).
Abraham is called righteous not merely because he believed in God, but because his actions reflected agreement with God. His belief and obedience were inseparable.
Misplaced Belief
Scripture gives a sobering warning: You say you believe there is one God, as if that declaration is sufficient. But it’s not. The devils believe and tremble, and their actions haven’t changed (James 2:19). Belief alone is not enough. Demons believe in God’s existence, power, and authority. But they don’t submit to his will. Their belief is rooted in self-interest, not surrender.
We can fall into the same trap—believing God exists, even believing his promises, yet still prioritizing our own desires above his. For example, Adam was not deceived (1 Timothy 2:14). He knew the truth. Yet he chose relationship with Eve over obedience to God. His belief didn’t lead to submission. It led to disobedience.
It’s possible to know the map and still choose the wrong road.
More Than Information
Pilate once asked, “What is truth?” Great question. What do you think it is? Even if we’re right about the facts, we might not have the right truth. Here’s why: Truth is more than knowing facts. It’s understanding how those facts apply to our lives and choosing to live accordingly.
Paul speaks of “rightly handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). That implies discernment—knowing not just what is true, but how those facts should shape our choices.
We can believe the truth and still apply it incorrectly. Jesus accused some Pharisees of doing exactly that when they dedicated everything to God so they had no means to honor their father and mother (Matthew 15:5–6; Mark 7:11–13).
Medicine taken in the wrong dosage can harm instead of heal.
Battle Between Flesh and Spirit
Jesus identified the battle, even within himself when he said, said: “The spirit is willing, but the body is weak” (Matthew 26:41). After three passionate prayers in which he said, “Father, if this cup of suffering cannot be emptied without my drinking it, let your will be done” (Matthew 26:42), his flesh became fully surrendered to the plan established from the beginning.
This tension defines the human experience. We may desire God’s will in our spirit, yet our flesh still resists. Faith grows when we strengthen our relationship with God through prayer, surrender, and obedience. Not casual prayer—but passionate, persistent alignment with his will.
Like pruning a tree, spiritual growth requires cutting away what is natural so that something greater can flourish.
Loving God with Everything
The greatest of all commandments says we should love God with our whole being (Matthew 22:37). This is not the transactional love that we express for some kind of benefit. It’s surrender where there’s no guaranteed return. Jesus demonstrated this love at the cross (Romans 5:8), dying for sinners. Then he said something radical that we might have trouble accepting: “If anyone wants to follow me, he must sacrifice his selfish desires. Take up your cross, and then you can follow me” (Matthew 16:24).
To believe rightly is to love deeply, like God does.
And to love deeply is to surrender completely to his will.
Question of Belief
So what does it mean to believe?
- It means trusting that God’s will is better than our own.
- It means aligning our lives with his truth.
- It means choosing surrender over control.
Belief is not proven in what we say. It’s revealed in what we choose. The question is not simply: Do we believe God can? The deeper question is: Do we trust him enough to accept whatever he chooses to do?
Questions to Ponder
- Where in your life have you shifted from “God can” to “God should”?
- How do you respond when God’s answer differs from your expectation?
- In what areas might your belief be correct in theory but misapplied in practice?
- What would it look like to fully align your desires with God’s will today?
- Are you willing to trust that God’s plan is better—even when you don’t understand it?
For many more open-ended discussion questions for almost every verse in the Bible, check out The Discussion Bible
