Grace

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) “But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

In this passage, Paul is telling us how he remains humble and why he only boasts about the Lord. He also speaks to us about ‘grace’. In a few verses before verse nine, Paul tells us that, “...in order to keep himself from becoming conceited…” he was given a ‘thorn’ in his flesh. Now, the Word doesn’t necessarily tell us specifically what that ‘thorn’ is. Paul describes it as, “...a messenger of Satan…” that torments him. He even goes on to say that he pleaded with God, not once, but three times to take the ‘thorn’ away. And this is when, in verse nine, God tells him, “...My ‘grace’ is sufficient for you…”

In our lives we all suffer from some kind of ‘thorn’ in our flesh. “A messenger of Satan’, if you will, always in our ear. Always pulling on our flesh. Always trying to make us think things or do things that are not of God. Attempting to make us go places God has not led us. When God gave that piece of information to Paul, He is also giving us the same word. The 'grace' of His forgiveness by the sacrifice of His One and Only Son for us, should be sufficient enough. No matter what we have done or said, we are forgiven by the Cross.

His grace is sufficient because it also gives us access to God’s power when we accept this over the pain and suffering of our ‘thorns’. God is always present and willing to take care of us. You see the results of our thorns should direct us to understand that this is where we redirect our focus and prayer. Instead of focusing on that pain and suffering of the ‘thorn’, we must look to the Lord for his power in healing, guidance and peace. Paul was leading us when he said, “...in order to keep me from being conceited…” In order for us to receive this power, we must focus on thinking about God and how much He loves us to forgive us. When we do that we allow our spirits access to that power God wants to give us. 

That thorn can be scary sometimes because it shows us that we can be weak. For many Christians who have been strong all their lives this revelation in weakness can be horrifying. But God is telling us, as we become physically weak in some places, He is allowing us to become spiritually stronger. In His word He tells us, “...for My power is made perfect in weakness…” Allow your 'thorn’ to help you find your strength in the Lord this week. Focus on God, not your problems, and tell the Lord you are ready for his healing, guidance and peace. Because we receive His grace, as sufficient.

Amen

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