When, God?Sýnishorn

PRAYER:

God, please guide my steps and direct my path today. Help me to trust that your grace is enough for me.  

READING:

When God Is Uncooperative – Part 2

Today we continue the story of the apostle Paul taken from his letter to the Corinthian church. Paul shared the experience of his “thorn in the flesh”—an affliction that tormented him. It was so bad that he had pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from him.

Now we read Jesus’s response.

But he said to me… – 2 Corinthians 12:9

For us, one of the frustrations is that sometimes we pray and pray, and we hear nothing. In Paul’s case, he actually got an answer. But even though you may never get a specific answer like Paul did, God’s answer to him is something that is available to you too. 

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you…” – 2 Corinthians 12:9

Jesus wasn’t going to give Paul what he was asking for, but his grace was sufficient. In this context, grace is simply the ability to put one foot in front of the other, to keep going even though nothing around you has changed—to find the energy, the strength, and the faith to keep moving in the direction God would have you move.

“… for my power is made perfect in weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9

None of us would sign up for this, would we? We’re all about giving glory to God, but we don’t want God to leverage his glory out of our weakness. We want God to leverage his glory out of our talent, out of our opportunity, out of our strength, out of our accomplishment. And God does that sometimes. But sometimes he says no. He’s going to get glory from you, but on the stage of your weakness, not your strength.

So here’s a heads-up if it’s in your future. Here’s an explanation if it’s in your past. And here’s some comfort if it’s in your current situation. God will, God has, God is going to showcase his strength in our weaknesses if we will learn to take no for an answer.

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses... That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses… – 2 Corinthians 12:9–10

Sometimes God says no. But even when God says no, he says yes. He may not change your circumstances. But while you wait and while you pray, his grace will be sufficient for you.

So here’s what we can learn from Paul’s story: It is not a lack of faith to ask God to remove our thorns, whatever they may be. We have God’s permission. But God has permission to say no. And that is not a reflection of God’s concern or lack of concern for you. It is his opportunity to showcase his strength in the midst of your weakness. But you can’t experience God’s sustaining grace while resisting his will and refusing to take no for an answer.

In the gap between what you want and what God has decided to do is sufficient, sustaining grace, the very power of God. When you’re at your lowest point, when you don’t think you can go on any longer, God’s grace is sufficient for you. In your weakness he is strong.

REFLECTION:

Can you think of times where you have seen God’s work accomplished through the weaknesses of people in your life? What can their example teach you about your own faith in times of trouble?