A Thorn in the Flesh
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
(2 Corinthians 12:9a ESV)
How often do we find ourselves crying out to God without the response that we expect? If you have ever found yourself in this situation, you are in good company. The apostle Paul found himself in this exact situation. On three occasions he prayed for what he called “a thorn in the flesh,” possibly a physical ailment. Paul never received the response he wanted, but rather a declaration from the Lord.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” As we face the struggles, sorrows, and shortcomings in our lives, we often need to be reminded that in Jesus, God has penetrated our humanity to the core of our being. He stood in our place, clothed in our flesh and has reconciled us to the Father. Yes, his grace is sufficient! We can be encouraged in the fact that he shared in all that we are. Amid our difficulties, we can trust in His sufficiency for us and allow for his power to be revealed in our weaknesses.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, I ask that by your Spirit, you give me the peace that will soothe my soul in every situation. May you grant me the understanding of the sufficiency of your grace and the strength that I need amid my struggles to experience you at a deeper level. In Jesus’s name I pray, Amen.
Study by Heber Ticas
First published on 29 May 2019 in GCI Update Devotionals https://update.gci.org
About the writer:
Heber Ticas is an elder in Grace Communion International and is the Superintendent of the churches in Latin America.
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