Learning to apply grace to your life

2 Corinthians 12:7–10
2 Corinthians 12:7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

In 2 Corinthians, the Apostle Paul is sharing a personal encounter he had with God during a difficult time in his life. He was facing something that must have felt impossible. It was so overwhelming that he pleaded with God to remove it from his life. His description of this reality was, “a thorn in the flesh.”

Without really knowing exactly what Paul was talking about, it seems that it was physical on one hand and spiritual on the other hand. His next description of this time in his life was that a “messenger from Satan had been sent to harass” him. Think about that — there was a physical affliction that was coupled with an attack of hell. Paul says, “Three times I pleaded with God.” Paul was begging. Paul was crying out to God fervently. Paul was desperate for a breakthrough. And yet, God did not give him the answer he wanted. But God did answer.

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

We can find ourselves in situations that seem overwhelming. We may wonder, where is God in all this? Why isn’t He answering my prayers? Where is grace when I need it? Where is God when I call on Him?

Where is grace?

And it is in that place of brokenness and lack that we will find grace at work. God shows up to support our weakness with His power. The power to be content with unanswered prayers. The power to get up each day even when we don’t “see” God working. The power to go through physical sickness and disease and still trust God is somehow going to work it all out. The power to endure hardships, persecutions, and calamities knowing that grace is working and that God is a “very present help in a time of trouble.”

Don’t give up. Don’t quit your faith. Don’t surrender to the “messenger of Satan” that is whispering lies in your ears and trying to convince you to embrace false beliefs. Stay true to God. His grace is sufficient for you.

Prayer: Father God, I put my trust in you on behalf of my kids. I have unanswered prayers — even prayers on behalf of my children, my family. I don’t understand why we can’t get our miracles, our breakthroughs. But I put my trust in you that one day, even if it isn’t in this life, it will all make sense. I ask you to extend that grace, that protection, that love to my children who are so new in their faith. Show up in their lives and protect them from the lies of the enemy. God, I trust you with Kiera, Makena, Aliyah, and Tegan. Watch over my wife and my family for your glory! In Jesus’ Name.