DAILY ENCOUNTER

HIS GRACE IS ENOUGH 

"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." 2 Corinthians 12:9 

Glory to God! Yesterday, we discussed casting our cares upon the Lord. But what do we do when the thing troubling us is not a worry but a weakness that does not go away? Apostle Paul shows us how God responds. Paul had received such great revelations that he was given 'a thorn in the flesh', a messenger of Satan to buffet him, so that he would not be exalted above measure. We do not know exactly what it was, and perhaps that is by design so that each of us can place our own struggle in that space. What we know is that Paul took it to the Lord in prayer. He asked three times for it to be removed. Notice that he was not lacking in faith. He was an apostle who had seen miracles, yet his thorn stayed. Many times we think a long struggle means God is not listening. But sometimes God answers with something better than removal. He said, 'My grace is sufficient for thee.' Not 'I will take it away', but 'my grace is enough'. Paul was asking for relief; God was offering resources. Grace is not only God's forgiveness; it is His empowering presence, the ability to stand when you ought to have fallen. Many of us pray for the storm to stop when God is saying, 'I will give you what you need to sail through it.'

Then the Lord added, 'For my strength is made perfect in weakness.' This goes against everything the world teaches us. The world says, 'Hide your weakness,' but God says, 'Your weakness is where His strength is displayed.' When you are strong in yourself, people see you; when you are weak and still standing, people see God. That is why Paul could say, 'Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.' He moved from begging for the thorn to be removed to boasting in the grace that sustained him. Think of Moses, who said he was slow of speech, yet God used him to confront Pharaoh. Think of Gideon, who said his family was the least in Manasseh, and God made him a deliverer. God does not look for people who have no weakness; He looks for people who will depend on Him. So, whatever you are struggling with today, weakness is not the opposite of faith; it is often the doorway to a deeper dependence on God. The man who says 'I cannot' is closer to a miracle than the man who says, 'I can do it all by myself.' Be honest about where you are weak. Whether it is a health challenge, a limitation, or a long-standing weakness, do not despair. His grace is enough. It is enough for the day, enough for the pressure, and enough to carry you to the end. You are not too weak for God to use. Hallelujah!!!

FURTHER STUDY

2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Romans 5:20; Hebrews 4:16 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

1. What is the 'thorn' in my life that I have been asking God to remove, and have I received His grace to live with it?
2. How can my weakness become a place where God's power is seen by others?

PRAYERS

Father, thank You for Your word. Your grace is sufficient for me. Let Your strength be made perfect in my weakness in Jesus's name. Amen.