220: His Sustaining Grace
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
(7) 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.
(8) Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
(9) 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.
(10) 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.
BiblicalCounselingAcademy.com
His grace is sufficient. So hard yet so simple to get ahold of this truth. It goes so against our human understanding that we may have to go through overwhelming difficulties to become like Jesus. What a challenge to stay focused on His grace to hold us up above the thorns. I think we all have “thorns!” Teach us Lord to embrace all that You have for us, even the hard stuff. I can relate to the personal hopelessness you talked about. I have felt hopeless that I would ever grow in the Lord or know what He has for me to do. I have am learning that the real problem is me focused on myself and my emotions. I see so much hopelessness in our nation and world. So much need for us to be counseled by Jesus ourselves and minister that to others.