And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9
Paul the Apostle was a man of great faith and an example and inspiration for all Christians. God used him to bring the Gospel to the Gentiles, to encourage the Early Church, and to perform many miracles. Yet, he had a problem that God did not fix. We read in 2 Corinthians that Paul asked the Lord to take his problem away on three separate occasions, but God chose to leave the affliction, saying, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Most of us have heard the saying, “God works in mysterious ways.” This is a simple explanation for situations we do not understand. Yet, sometimes we still have expectations of the Lord, and we can become discouraged when those expectations are not met. When we do not understand the circumstances that surround us, it is easy to become weighed down by our weaknesses. At those times, the enemy of our souls loves to cloud our minds with doubt and despair, and is always ready to steal our peace and joy. He accuses us relentlessly, trying to derail our faith.
God, however, is our strength in a time of trouble! In fact, our focus verse says that the power of God is revealed in our weakness. When the Lord declined Paul’s petitions, Paul did not become discouraged because he knew he was in the Lord’s will, and realized that his problem was actually an opportunity to depend more upon God. Like Paul, when we truly need the Lord—when we realize that we cannot accomplish something in our own strength—He will give us the assurance that He will strengthen us and help us to overcome every obstacle. No matter what the enemy hurls at us and no matter how potent the darts, the strength of the Lord is greater than the tricks of the devil.
Have you been discouraged recently? Have circumstances in your life left you confused and frustrated? Go to the One who understands all our troubles and every need. Even when we feel lost, our confusion is crystal clear to God. He brings peace to the troubled mind, strength to the weak, and assurance to the contrite heart. Reach out to the Lord today, He is reaching out to you.
Lord, you know all of my needs. Your grace is sufficient for me. Give me the strength, the faith, and the understanding to turn any despair or defeat into victory. May you receive all the glory. Amen.