My Grace Is Sufficient

In a small group I attend, sometime back someone shared, “You know I’ve struggled with physical pain for most of my adult life. And far too often, I’ve had well-meaning Christians say: if you would just pray about it, if you just had a little more faith, God will take it away. She said, “I’ve prayed. I’ve prayed…”

In certain circles of Christianity, there is a belief that if healing doesn’t occur in answer to prayer, it is because a person lacks faith. I’ve actually had people tell me that they were told they could have saved a loved one if only they had had a little more faith… if they had just prayed harder… or believed more… That is bad theology! 

This clearly runs counter to Paul’s experience. No doubt Paul had great faith. But he writes to the Corinthians that a thorn was given to him in the flesh. And three times he appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave him. But the Lord said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)

The thorn was not removed. He did not receive the answer he wanted. Instead, the Lord said, “My grace is sufficient for you…”

Many of you have found in your struggles and hardships – in those moments where there is nowhere left to turn but to fall on your knees in prayer – you have found that it was God’s grace that carried you through.

This is not to say we don’t seek help when we need it, and pray, and work hard on what is within our control. We certainly do. But at the same time, we have to trust that whatever the outcome, God’s grace will be sufficient. 

Let us pray: Loving God, we have indeed seen your power at work within weakness. We remember the cross and what you accomplished through one broken man. And you have carried us through the wilderness time and again. We do pray today for healing, for wholeness, and well-being. And we ask for grace upon grace. In Jesus’ name. Amen.