The Sufficiency of God's Grace

"And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:7-10) 

Recently, I took a hard look at the above passage and I realised that God moves in ways that we, very often, do not understand. His ways sometimes are counter intuitive and we need the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to behold wondrous things out of His law. From all indications, Apostle Paul was a man who loved God dearly, suffered for Him, was used by God to perform miracles, was well educated and wrote more than half of the New Testament. Yet, when he was confronted with an annoying and somewhat restrictive situation in his life, God told Him, 'My grace is sufficient for you...' in the situation, not out of it. One's perception or misconception of God's grace may enhance or impede one's fruitfulness. There is a tendency to think that fruitfulness is only achievable in perfect or utopian circumstances, where everything is nice, cosy and pleasant. That is a dangerous viewpoint and it is not biblical. Apostle Paul had to live the rest of his life with a thorn in his flesh. Interesting, isn't it?

Why did God allow Joseph to be imprisoned for more than a decade (Genesis 39 and 40)? Why did Job pass through such a demoralising, debilitating, degrading and painful experience? Why was John the Baptist beheaded when Jesus was walking the surface of the earth not too far from where his death occurred (Matthew 14)? Why are Christians persecuted, tortured and killed in many countries today? Why? Why?? Why??? Is God dead? No. Is He impotent? No. Is He limited? No. So, what is going on? In all these situations, God's grace has been sufficient and it will continue to be sufficient.

My brothers, sisters, friends and acquaintances, it is impossible to fathom the wisdom of God and the full intricacies of His plans. "Seventeen-year-old Joni Eareckson Tada takes the dive that left her a quadriplegic, dramatically changing her life." (https://www.joniandfriends.org/about/our-history/). This happened in 1967 and Joni has been in a wheelchair for 54 years. In her situation, God has used her beyond her wildest dreams, using her to reach millions of people with the love of Jesus and demonstrating that His grace is sufficient for her in her situation. Hear what she had to say: 

"God is more concerned with conforming me to the likeness of His Son than leaving me in my comfort zones. God is more interested in inward qualities than outward circumstances - things like refining my faith, humbling my heart, cleaning up my thought life and strengthening my character." (https://www.inspiringquotes.us/quotes/PNfh_b268cLjh)

Have you ever spent sometime to think about some situations you have experienced? Why did God allow them to happen? In Paul's case, God told him after he had pleaded with Him three times,  'My grace is sufficient for you...' Today, you may not understand what is going on but I can assure you that God's grace is sufficient for you. I say again, God's grace is sufficient for you as it was for Joseph and Job. God's grace is sufficient for His people today as it was thousands of years ago because God never changes (Malachi 3:6, Hebrews 13:8). 

God's grace was sufficient for Stephen as he was stoned to death. Why didn't God deliver Stephen from the hostility, pain, torture he was going through? Why? Is God a masochist? No. There are experiences or situations that we have to go through in order to glorify God. It may appear as if the situation is hopeless; people may even mock and ridicule you; they may say unkind things to you, discriminate against you, etc. Hear the Word of God for you today - God's grace is sufficient for you. His grace will give you strength, endow you with wisdom, empower you to preach the Gospel in your situation and enable you to give a powerful testimony in life or in death. Oh, the matchless wisdom and power of God!

Jeremiah has been called the weeping prophet. Jeremiah was imprisoned (thrown into a muddy dungeon) for proclaiming the uncompromising Word of God. He experienced despair, loneliness, abuse, rejection, etc. but in his situation God's grace was sufficient for him. God's grace enabled him to go through a horrendous experience and emerge victorious. God's grace does not provide an escape from pain and suffering. It gives joy, strength, focus, wisdom, patience and faith in spite of the situation. No wonder James wrote:

"My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." (James 1:2-5). You see, this kind of patience cannot be obtained otherwise. Trials are necessary for us to learn patience. In the midst of the trials, God's grace is sufficient. When Christians were being torn apart and devoured by hungry lions in the Coliseum of Rome, God's grace was sufficient. 

I was reading Jeremiah 29 the other day when suddenly it dawned on me that God did not encourage the Jews outside of their captivity but right in the midst of their captivity and humiliation. "Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and dwell in them; plant gardens and eat their fruit. ...And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace. ...For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord , thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you." (Jeremiah 29:4-5,7,11-12). When God spoke this Word, priests, prophets and princes had been taken captive to Babylon. Yet God told them that His thoughts towards them were thoughts of peace and not evil to give them a future and a hope. God was not tripping - He knew exactly what He was doing. It is fair to say that the Jews would have been wondering what was happening and why God was telling them that it was okay when they had been captured and removed from their native land and taken as captives to a foreign land. In a foreign land, God told them to seek the peace of the cities where they were kept. They must have been asking, 'God, what on earth are you doing and saying?'

I declare today that in your trial, God is with you. He will never leave you nor forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). His grace is sufficient for you in every situation. He has made it possible for you to see today. He has a plan and purpose for your life although it may not look that way at the moment. GOD'S GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU. Cheer up my brother, cheer up my sister for God has got your back. Don't lose hope for He cares for you and will lead you through the valley of hardship, suffering and pain so that you will be able to say, 'I know my Redeemer lives'. May God bless you and keep you. May His face shine upon you and His presence be with you in your going out and coming in in the Name of Jesus. Have a blessed day.