My friend Martha and I were flying overseas on a mission trip. But my stress was eating me up. My husband and I had five days to figure something out before our family became homeless. Knowing my situation, Martha asked me, “What’s the absolute worst thing that could happen?”
I described the most disturbing and preposterous scenario I could envision. Her next question rocked my world: “And do you believe God could give you the grace for that?”
Martha’s questions forced me to acknowledge a life-changing truth: even if the worst happened, God would be right with me and my family to provide all we would need to persevere.
When Paul had a significant problem, he asked God to remove it (2 Corinthians 12:7–8). Instead, God replied, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (v. 9). Our hope is not in quick fixes or things ‘somehow’ working out. Rather, our hope is in the sufficiency of God’s grace to hold and strengthen us through even the worst times.
Paul went so far as to say he delighted in difficulties giving him another chance to rely on God’s strength (v. 10). While I didn’t delight in my fears, I did draw courage knowing that God’s grace would be sufficient, no matter what I returned home to.
His grace is still sufficient; seek the strength and courage you need from Him today.
By Debbi Fralick
REFLECT & PRAY
What’s worrying you today? How could God’s grace be sufficient in that situation?
Father, You know the fear that grips my heart. Help me to take hold of Your promise of grace. You will provide what I need to endure.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Paul deliberately boasted about his many spectacular visions (2 Corinthians 12:1–7; see Acts 9:1–9; 16:6–10) to refute false teachers who said he wasn’t a genuine apostle because he didn’t have ecstatic spiritual experiences. Although such boasting was distasteful to him (2 Corinthians 12:1, 5), he believed it was necessary to deal with the misguided spirituality and pride of his opponents. He was given a “thorn in [his] flesh” ( v. 7) so Christ’s power might be proclaimed (vv. 5–10). The word thorn was used for anything pointed, such as a stake, the pointed end of a fishhook, or a splinter. This implied that Paul had endured severe pain. We don’t know what the thorn was. Some think he had an eye affliction (see Galatians 4:15; 6:11) or a chronic ailment. But we know its intent: to keep him humble on account of his “surpassingly great revelations” ( 2 Corinthians 12:7).
K. T. Sim
Our mission is to make the life-changing wisdom of the Bible understandable and accessible to all.
