My Grace Is Sufficient For Thee!
2 Corinthians 12
KJV
9+ 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.
A very revealing word of comfort and assurance you’ve just read. Paul had petitioned God to remove a “thorn in his flesh” which he described as “
the messenger of Satan to buffet me,”
He petitioned three times but to no avail, only to be told, “My grace is sufficient for you.” In other words, God is saying to him, “I’ll provide you with my cover so that even though you are walking under the valley of the shadow of death, you’ll triumph.”
This is the experience of Paul hence he wrote these self-assuring words ;
Philippians 4
KJV
13+ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
In Gethsemane, God did the same to Jesus, He sent His angels to strengthen him through the agonising moments ( mental, emotional) he was experiencing
Luke 22
KJV
43 And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
44+ And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.
The same assurance from God is what Isaiah recorded; read them
Isaiah 43
KJV
2+ When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Isaiah 40
KJV
29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
31+ But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
In life we each have a “Cross “ to carry much as we wish we never have, it is God’s way of manifesting His power and presence with us. It is also His way of teaching us to rely on Him!
As Paul said, it was God’s way of humbling him lest he become proud.
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
Did you read this; “ lest I should be exalted above measure” yes a “ thorn in our flesh “ could be God’s way of teaching us humility!
But what could this “ thorn “ be? It varies from person to person, but simply it is any permanent inconvenience that puts limitations on enjoying your total freedom!
Many have certain limitations that they’ve worried themselves about, they’ve spent so much fortune to have them removed but to no avail.
These are not alone, Paul was like that. Three times he petitioned God, but to no avail. However, unlike us, he resolved and resigned his will to God. Read what he wrote,
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9+ 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.
Beloved, accept your “ cross “ live with it and enjoy life. Your worries will not change anything! I have a metal implant in my right arm, and it’s been there since 1989! Truly a “ thorn in my flesh” there is nothing I can do about it but to live with it.
My grace is sufficient for thee was not said only to Paul, but by extension also to us who are in situations similar to his.
Therefore beloved, avoid self-pity. Look at the positive side of life and enjoy yourself regardless! God will provide strength to help us bear our Crosses! He did it to Paul and will do it to us who trust Him
My take