GOD'S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT

Proclamation:

“To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me.  Three times I pleaded with The Lord to take it away from me.  But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 (NIV)

Explanation:

In his letter to the believers in Corinth, the Apostle Paul was defending his ministry and boasting of the things he had done and the visions that he had seen. (2 Corinthians 11:1-12:6)  Paul said that the “thorn” in his flesh was to humble him and to keep his focus on The Lord.  The Lord’s reply to his requests to remove the thorn was that God’s power is demonstrated in the face of human weakness.  Then Paul went on to say that now he delights in weaknesses, insults, persecutions, and difficulties because when he is at his weakest, he is made strong with God’s help. (2 Corinthians 12:10)

Application:

No matter what it is that we are going through, or dealing with, God's grace is sufficient to get it us through it.  The Lord can demonstrate His strength when we are weak and under duress if we turn whatever it is over to Him.  The Lord does not have to remove the mountain that is in front of us, He can give us the strength to climb over it.  He does not have to calm the storm, He can give us the strength to withstand it.  Sometimes we think too highly of ourselves and our abilities and we don’t give God the credit for enabling us and helping us.  Maybe some of our problems are “thorns” which God lets Satan inflict upon us to keep our focus on The Lord.  Remember, Peter was walking on water in a stormy sea and did not start to sink until he took his eyes off of The Lord. (Matthew 14:22-33)  Let us keep our focus on The Lord and not on our problems.  We serve a big and all powerful God and all of our problems are small and insignificant in comparison.  Our “thorns” in life can just be a humbling experience to remind us that God’s grace is sufficient.