“For though I might desire to boast, I will not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. 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.”
II Corinthians 12:6-10 NKJV
When I was a little girl and taking piano lessons, I didn’t want to practice where my sister or brother could hear me. You see, I didn’t want them to hear me messing up on the songs as I was trying to learn them. I know, that’s perfectionism, right?
Unfortunately, that need to do whatever I was doing in a perfect way, also bled over into my relationship with the Lord. At one point I became aware that I rarely spoke to the Lord concerning my personal struggles or weaknesses. Now, the way I became aware of that dynamic was when the Lord spoke to me and said, “Janet, you need to know you need a savior to have one.”
Yes, those words, so matter-of-factly spoken to me, made me see the foolishness of trying to show the Lord how “perfect” I was!
Now, please understand, this was not in any way my thinking that I was somehow better than those who struggled. Rather, it was me actually trying to “earn” the Lord‘s favor by being a “perfectly” good girl.
Of course, I still want to comport myself in a way that is pleasing to the Lord and reflects Him to others. But, I now know that He actually wants to help me with those things I can’t do or endure by myself.
In fact, we can’t really do ANYTHING by ourselves. Jesus made this point clear when speaking of our need to stay connected to Him.
““I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5 NKJV
Indeed, Christ did not come and do what He did for us so that we could live our lives trying to show Him we don’t need Him. As a matter of fact, it is in knowing our need for Him that we are strengthened and enabled by His marvelous gift of grace!
Our Lord, our High Priest, struggled with everything we will ever struggle, so, He knows where we’re coming from. Therefore, we can go to Him in confidence that He will help us with whatever current affliction or resistance is coming against us.
“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV
Additionally, the wonderful thing about our depending on Him, living a life vitally connected to Him, is that He never runs out of grace for us.
“And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
John 1:16-17 NKJV
The apostle Paul understood that anything we are able to do or to endure, is because of the Lord’s grace, His enabling power within us.
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”
I Corinthians 15:10 NKJV
In speaking to the church at Philippi concerning their ministering to his needs, Paul made it clear that, although he appreciated what they were doing for him, his peace and contentment did not come from anything but the Lord. Yes, the Lord helped him endure whatever he needed to endure.
“Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Philippians 4:11-13 NKJV
In our opening scripture we see Paul illustrating his vulnerability by openly talking about some thorn in the flesh he had. He tells of how he had fervently sought the Lord to remove this resistance and/or affliction from him. Instead of the Lord removing the thorn, He helped Paul to understand that it is when we know we can’t do something alone, and depend completely on Him, that we are at our strongest.
Dear friend, whatever you must endure, whatever your affliction, whatever resistance comes against you, whatever the thorns you may find yourself up against, remember, the Lord has already overcome everything you will ever face; and, His overcoming power is an ever-present help in the time of your need.
Don’t allow your personal pain, suffering, hurt, loss, and so on, cause you to turn away from your only hope. Rather, take everything to the Lord: the good, the bad, and the ugly, depend fully on Him, and stay tapped into His grace.
Yes, whatever you need, whatever you’re going through, His grace is sufficient.
Peace to you.
Jesus is coming! Get ready for Him!
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