Years ago I was teaching a faith and business integration class at a School of Business at a Christian university. I was addressing the topic of pursuing and fulfilling one’s calling in life. I had tied in the notion of gifts which enable individuals to fulfil their callings. In other words, God equips people to do that to which they have been called. Individuals typically do well at what they are passionate about and then develop their expertise.

 A young lady piped up with a comment to challenge what I presented as biblical logic. “No, we don’t need to be gifted, because God can use us through our weakness.” In other words, we don’t need to be gifted or equipped because God can use us anyways. There is some element of truth in that comment, but it needs to be unpacked within the overall biblical concept of calling.

 This young lady was referring to 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. The Apostle Paul is talking about a “thorn in his flesh” that he pleaded with the Lord to take away from him three times. The Lord said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (v. 9). Paul goes on to say that he has endured various “infirmities”, persecutions, distresses for Christ’s sake. Paul then concludes, echoing the same comments made by the Lord, that “For when I am weak then I am strong.” (v. 10)

 How do we view this passage in the context of understanding a biblical concept of calling? There needs to be an important distinction. This passage does not talk about the nature of the core calling of Paul, but rather the process of pursuing one’s calling. In other words, Paul had a clear calling to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles and not have it to be limited to the Jews or perceived as a Jewish sect. Instead, Paul was passionate throughout his writings and travels about advancing the Gospel to all people and to convey Christian principles as widely as possible.

 Paul was extraordinarily well equipped to pursuing this calling. As Saul he had been an outstanding leaders, a Pharisee among the Pharisees, an intellectually gifted student. As a persecutor of Christians he understood their beliefs and the challenge they presented to his own. After his road to Damascus experience, he channeled his devotion to the Gospel with intricate knowledge of the religious and political landscape of his times.

 Bearing this mind, let’s look again at the above quoted passage, Paul has a thorn in his flesh, perhaps it was some sort of nagging illness, though we don’t know. The thorn in his flesh serves as a reminder that his calling is pursued and ultimately fulfilled through the power of God and not his own. Sometimes people glory in their own gifts. They think that they are achieving great things of their own might. They lose sight of the fact that everything they do is subject to God’s providence. So, in this weakness Paul can draw on the power of God.

 But we need to note a caution that this understanding does not then mean that Christians should engage in something they are not good at (i.e. a “weakness”) and that God will make them “strong.” For example, a person who doesn’t have gifting in a certain area (say music) should not think God will simply make them a great musician.

 People have a “gift zone” and a “comfort zone.” Individuals need to stay in their gift zone and to pursue and demonstrate excellence. At the same time, as individuals pursue their gifts they should look for challenges and get outside their comfort zone.

 Any other understanding of the above passage from 2 Corinthians would go against a biblical concept of calling. People could remain weak, because God will make them strong. People wouldn’t need equipping, because God will make up the difference. People might not need to prepare, because God will shine through their limitations, which may have been their own failure to prepare.   People could be content with less, as God will make up the difference.

 No, instead people need to be focused on their calling which is rooted in their giftedness. Believers need to be running the race, fighting the good fight, striving for the finish line and pursuing excellence. That is what God requires and that brings Him Glory. As believers strive, they will surely have challenges and with God’s power we can overcome those thorns in their own flesh.

 The bottom line, however, is that they need to play to their strengths.