May 19 - His Grace Is Sufficient.

II Corinthians 12:8-9
“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
 
Aren’t you glad that God’s grace is sufficient? Often this verse is interpreted that God’s grace is enough (and it is!), but more often than not the Scripture has hidden treasures that the Lord wants us to search to find.
 
R.A. Torrey mentions this truth in his book, “How To Study The Bible”:
“The Bible contains golden nuggets of Truth, and anyone willing to dig for that Truth is certain to find it.”
 
Paul had prayed three times asking God to remove his thorn in the flesh, yet God answered in a different way than Paul wanted or expected. His thorn was never removed. Instead, Jesus Christ told Paul that His grace was more than enough... The word sufficient here means to suffice, but it also means to be content, to be made strong, to be possessed of unfailing strength.
 
How can we be content?
Hebrews 13:5
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
 
How can we be made strong?
Ephesians 6:10-11
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
 
How can we possess unfailing strength?
Philippians 4:13
“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
 
Although God chose not to remove the thorn, Paul decided to glory in his physical infirmity because it made him rely on Christ’s grace and strength. It was a daily battle for Paul to serve and minister to the people he was sent to.
 
The word glory here means to rejoice or find joy within. Paul did not focus on the negative aspects of his thorn and what it hindered or prevented him from accomplishing. Instead, he found joy in the fact that his thorn caused him to rely not on his own strength, but in Christ’s.
 
God may choose not to remove your thorn. But rest assured that if you choose to find a speck of joy, a reason to rejoice despite the struggle, despite the pain, God’s grace will give you an unfailing strength to endure. Allow His strength to make you strong today.
 
Your thorn may not be a physical ailment. His grace is sufficient for every trial, every storm, every difficulty, every circumstance, every problem. His grace is sufficient for every day. The good days, the bad days, the in-between days, the chaotic days, the uneventful days, the days when you face the unknown of the future… His grace is sufficient.
 
Notice what happens when we choose to rejoice in our circumstances… “that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
 
God allows the thorns of our lives so that we may see our need for His strength. When we are weak in our own strength, God can use us. Relying on our own strength only impedes God working through us and in us by His power and for His glory.
 
Be content in His grace today. Be strong through His grace today. Rest in His unfailing strength, for His grace is sufficient!
 
 
Bible Reading:
II Samuel 1-2  |  I Corinthians 7  |  Psalm 109