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His grace is sufficient

"His grace is sufficient" The Apostle Paul had a thorn in his flesh. It was given to him. A messenger of Satan. To harass him. To keep him from being too elated. He pleaded over and over and over again to the Lord to take it away...2 Corinthians 12:1-10

But God's answer to him was:
 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Cor 12:9-10.

I have had a year and half to think about this verse. 

In an interesting article by John Piper "Power in Weakness" he explores the meaning of the word weakness in this verse. Insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities." These are circumstances and situations and experiences and wounds that make us look weak: things we would probably get rid of if we had the human strength."


This trial was given to me. I had no part in it. The actions of a distracted driver on a routine drive to work changed my life forever. There is no way I can even plead for God to take away this "thorn" of loss. Julius is never coming back. Life is NEVER going to be same. It is only going to get worse in terms of loneliness. Time does not heal. It has not healed anything for me. The loss is sometimes greater - and yet His grace is sufficient.

Sufficient for what Lord?
Sufficient to wake up in the morning - no actually to go to bed at night and to sleep.

So what is the purpose of this weakness? Why did this have to happen? Believe it or not I still ask that question. Would it have ruined "some vast eternal plan" as Topol sang in Fiddler on the Roof if Julius and I were given some more years together?

Looking at the Apostle Paul's response: The trial was evil and yet it was given to him for a purpose. "Paul was in danger of pride and self-exaltation and God took steps to keep him humble." "God thinks humility is more important than comfort." Piper.

The other purpose of this trial says Paul is to display the all sufficient grace and perfect power of Jesus. Paul is able to say that he is content with insults hardships persecutions and calamities.

Content? Loved one are you revolting against the thorn you have? God is not only asking you to accept it but to actually be content in it.

Will you like the Apostle Paul be willing to allow God to use you as a vessel to display God's perfect power. 

Daily I get to see how sufficient this grace is. A year and a half later, here I am in even more pain but pressing on only because His grace is sufficient. It has to be - because I could not do this on my own.

"The deepest need that you and I have in weakness and adversity is not quick relief, but the well-grounded confidence that what is happening to us is part of the greatest purpose of God in the universe." Piper

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