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Sufficient Grace

2 Corinthians 12:9

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.

Paul received a thorn in his flesh that kept him from boasting or exalting himself. Self-exaltation is an easy trap when your preaching is anointed and effective. For some reason, God saw it fitting for others to witness weakness in Paul so His glory would be evident. Otherwise, Paul would generate “Paul followers” instead of “Christ followers.” God gave Paul a thorn and would not remove it. He wanted Paul to display His glory by leaning on His grace to overcome.

Many Bible scholars believe Paul’s thorn in the flesh was a physical illness. Scripture, however, never defines this thorn. For some reason, God chose not to reveal Paul’s weakness but to demonstrate His glory through Paul. We can only speculate of Paul’s weakness, but there is no denying the power of God at work in His life! That is how I hope my life will be remembered, as well. While I struggle with many obvious weaknesses, my prayer is that God’s glory will outshine it to the point that His glory is all others recall.

God’s grace is sufficient for you today. God never promised to remove all your thorns in this life, but He did promise us sufficient grace to overcome them. Denying weakness is a sign of pride, and you will never defeat your thorns in your own strength. Your thorns are obvious, and your only hope to deal with them is through grace. Surrender your weakness to God, and watch how sufficient grace can be in your life. God wants to display His glory through you, and His power is made perfect in weakness. In the end, others will see more of God and less of you.

Have a blessed day!

PHOEBE Connections, Inc. is a 501(c)3 dedicated to enhancing the lives of widows by building relationships and helping them find new identity in Jesus Christ through serving others. We promote an atmosphere of fellowship, where the widow can connect with other widows to develop friendships and supportive relationships.