Post by William Norvell

God told Paul no three times! Paul begged God to take the thorn away. Knowing Paul, I imagine the begging was intense. And God still said NO. We never talk about that part. Not "not yet." Not "let me think about it." Not "do this and I'll take it away." A simple no. Not in my plan for you. We love to talk about grace being sufficient. We skip right past the part where the answer was no, and Paul had to keep building anyway. The key turn for me is how Paul turns a no into a superpower. He doesn't just accept the thorn. He starts to boast in it. He starts to tell people this is evidence of God's love for him. The thing he wanted gone became the thing he pointed to. God does this constantly in business. You ask and ask for the deal, for the sale, for the partnership. God says no, and it's only after ... sometimes years later ... you see how he was protecting you. You see the thing you most desperately wanted was actually not good for you or your business. Next time God says no after a sincere ask... take a breath and boast in that circumstance. Boast in the fact that only HE can work in the situation now.