His Grace is Enough

But he said to me, “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.

(2 Corinthians 12:9)

Are you like me and have a physical infirmity that God has not healed, even though you have prayed for relief before? At first, I didn’t understand why God wouldn’t heal me but then I realized, I’m in good company. The Apostle Paul had a “thorn in the flesh” that he prayed to God about three times. We don’t know what his “thorn” was but we know it bothered Paul. God chose not to heal him, but Paul was still able to do God’s work all over the Roman Empire. Even though he was afflicted in some way, he became the most prolific evangelist ever.

God may leave me with my “thorns” to help me stay humble. My “thorn” is chronic, sometimes severe low back pain. I’ve had this pain since before I came to know Jesus. I have asked him a great many times for healing but here I sit with a most annoying pain. I definitely don’t like having back pain but every time it gets bad quietly sit with Jesus and ask him to get me through. So far, he has been faithful. I fell into the trap of thinking prescription drugs would remove my “thorn.” I was addicted for several years, but through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit, I was miraculously delivered that slavery, and I am still free today.

I could choose to sit around and complain. I could return to my old life and follow many who have chosen addictive drugs to relieve the pain. Or, I could decide that alcohol helps to ease the pain, even though I know neither of those choices will. All drugs or alcohol can ever achieve is deadening my mind and take away any control I would have over my life. When I fall into the trap of addiction, the need for the next fix or drink controls my life.

Through his grace, he showed me he’s not just a healer of my aches and pains, he’s my Savior and his grace is enough. He wants me to rely on him and realize I need him every day. I am weak in my own strength, but he gives me the strength to resist the temptations of this world. He leads me in everything I do, and all the glory belongs to him. I can boast in nothing about me except that I belong to him.

Father God you are our strength and power. We are weak on our own, but we are made strong by the power of your Christ. We all have some discomfort in our lives that distracts us from you. Whatever that thorn is, if it’s your choice that we learn to live with it, help us to accept your will. Don’t let us fall into the trap of the secular world, that would push their addictive remedies on us. Remedies that are fleeting at best and leave us in a far worse place in the long run. Strengthen our resolve to help ourselves by being your hands and feet to a world that needs you as much as we do. Even though we may be experiencing some kind of pain, the work of your Kingdom still needs to be done. Help us to be a more effective witness of your love through our weaknesses. You have forgiven our sins by your grace, which we don’t deserve, how much more should we expect? We live by faith that your grace is enough for us. Remind us to boast about how, even in our weakness, you have placed the power of Christ upon our hearts. It’s in his precious name, we pray. Amen!