I like how the paraphrase,The Message, explains this verse:
“Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, then he told me,
My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.
Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size–abuse, accidents, oppositions, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become.”
I’m always telling my kids, “We all have something.” People May seem like they have no struggles but we all have something. In my family we have Ulcerative Colitis, Epilepsy, PTSD, Deafness, Skin Cancer, Gout, Nerve Pain, Allergies, Gastritis, Ulcers, ADHD, Autism and one is Glaucoma suspect. Illnesses and disabilities require us to modify our lifestyles. We can easily give these things an important place in our lives. They can overtake us! I know I constantly need reminders that these things aren’t the most important! They’re just our bodies. When given to God these things can bring glory to God or they can make us become more selfish, always focusing on ourselves and our problems.
The last thing our enemy wants is for us to cast aside our ailments and serve God anyhow! When I declare Gods Grace is enough My entire perspective changes and I’m not overcome by what’s ailing me. In fact, I’m more able to magnify God in my weakness, my shortcomings and my ailments. What I cannot do God is not stunted, God is unleashed when I find myself dependent on Him. We do not like depending on others because it’s not safe, but God is safe. God is enough. Irony that in our quest for strength we are weak. God always has a way of leveling the playing field. All will be made right by His grace in due time. God is trustworthy and kind. We can let go, stop trying to control everything and give God permission to utilize His power in our lives. So, we all have something. It’s normal, but we all have the choice to invite God in to transform our something into a divine happening that will direct others into the Kingdom. No matter how bad things get here for us believers, this is our Hell and our Heaven is on the way!
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 MSG
Jeni Martin Johnson 
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