The Gift of Grace

“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

Problems, everyone’s got them. They come in all shapes and sizes and varying degrees and for each person out there, there seems to be a unique way we go about trying to face them. And yet, studying through 2 Corinthians 12 I am reminded of the best way to handle a bad day or a string of bad days. In chapter 12, I noticed right away the apostle Paul faced difficulties in his life too and for some reason that encouraged me. Maybe it was the thought that I am not alone. Problems are a part of this life, Christian and non-Christian alike.

Paul had a thorn in his flesh that he prayed three times to the Lord that He would remove from his life and three times the answer came back from the Lord different from what Paul had hoped it would. The answer wasn’t “NO” to the apostles request, the answer was “MORE” than the apostles request. Another great reminder that “God gives His best to those who leave the choice to Him”. What I mean is, prayer doesn’t change God’s plans, prayer changes me!

Jesus response to the apostle Paul’s request came back in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Instead of removing something from the apostle’s life, Jesus gave him more in a sense. Jesus reminded the apostle Paul that he possessed something greater than the pain he was enduring. Jesus reminded the apostle Paul that grace wasn’t a one time event in his life. Jesus reminded the apostle Paul that Jesus grace IS sufficient because it’s always accessible. Jesus didn’t say His grace “was” sufficient or that it “will” be sufficient one day. No, loved one, what Jesus told the apostle Paul, He is telling you and me today too. Jesus wants us to know that His grace is sufficient for us each and every moment of our lives and never more than when we need it most. Like today!

Are you enduring a bad day or a difficult trial in your life? Do you have a thorn in your flesh that is bringing you tremendous pain? If so, do what Jesus did, do what the apostle Paul did. Have a fresh encounter with the Father today. Find a solitary place and get alone with God and pray. Pray and share with God everything that is in your heart. In other words pour out your heart to God and then allow God to pour out His grace afresh on you. Like the apostle Paul you might not get the answer you wanted but you will always get the answer you needed and the one God wants for you which might just promote the same response as the apostle Paul in the rest of verse 9, “Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

Don’t let the pain and hurt of life keep you from God, let the hurts and the heartaches of life bring you to God for its in His presence that you will find that His grace is sufficient as in His presence is the fullness of joy!

“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

2 Corinthians 12:10

I LOVE YOU!