Letting Grace Work

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." 2 Cor 12:9

Some days truth hits us right up side the head when we are least expecting it. His grace IS sufficient for me. It’s there in print, it’s truth, but do I believe it? Do I walk in it?

I must confess that often my thoughts or my walk doesn’t line up to what I know to be true. It’s hard. I struggle. I walk in my flesh. Even worse, at times, it’s what I have chosen to do.

I am reminded that basically this verse is saying, “Do you want to let My grace work in this situation instead of trying it your way?”

Paul asks God three times to remove the thorn in his flesh and all three times God says "My grace can work here.”  Paul wanted it his way, he wanted God to remove it.

God was giving Paul a choice, for God could have removed it. But God’s plans are higher than ours. God wanted Paul to allow the thorn to stay do that God could use it to bring God glory.

God would use it to help grow and establish Paul. To give him power in the Spirit.

I love Paul’s answer “Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."

Paul gladly choose to boast about the thorn and allow God to use it in his life so that the power of Christ would dwell in him.

I need to be more like Paul. I know I would have wanted to have the thorn removed. I like easy. I want a pain free life, one that’s uncomplicated and goes along without a hitch. (Hey a girl can dream can’t she?)

Ephesians 6 tells us to stand firm and somehow I don’t believe standing firm means dreaming of an easy life or asking God to remove the thorn.

Oh how I want to be like Paul and embrace the hard things in life. I want to embrace the “thorn” whatever it may be!!

Standing firm is not gritting your teeth, pulling your boot traps up and just dealing with it. To stand firm mean to stand in the midst of the suffering and let it happen. It’s standing in the knowledge of knowing that God’s grace will work in this situation. God DOES have a plan. A plan that will bring Him glory and bring you to a fuller knowledge of Him.

God’s grace IS sufficient. I must choose to step aside. I need to trust in His plan and not think I have a better one. Instead of asking God to make my life easier, or better, or to removed anything I need to stand firm in His sufficient GRACE.

God's grace is sufficient for me TODAY. He has given me all that I need and will perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish Me. I need to keep my eyes on the hope of the eternal. TODAY He will give me everything I need for life and godliness; He will give me all I need to do that which He has called me to do.

Oh Jesus help me to live a life that shows that Your grace is sufficient. Help me to see that my pain or suffering (if not caused by sinful choices) is something you want to use in my life. Help me to rely on your grace, your strength in each circumstance so that you might be glorified.