2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV) My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. INTRODUCTION Here is recorded one of the greatest spiritual truths in all of Scripture: God's strength is made perfect (complete, mature) in our weakness. Verse 10 expresses it again in summary fashion: "For when I am weak, then I [through Christ's power] am strong." [Believer's SB] Jesus had taught his disciples this principle years before: "I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing" (John 15:5 NRSV). It is only when believers remain in Christ and rely on Christ's power that they become truly effective. (Life Application Commentary) When we are strong in abilities or resources, we are tempted to do God's work on our own, and that can lead to pride. When we are weak, allowing God to fill us with 'his' power, then we are stronger than we could ever be on our own. God does not intend for us to seek to be weak, passive, or ineffective - life provides enough hindrances and setbacks without us creating them. When those obstacles come, we must depend on God. Only his power will make us effective for him and will help us do work that has lasting value. [Life Application SB] COMMENTARY PEARL My guideposts editor invited me to write about my divorce, both to help others and to explain my name change. I agreed because I knew readers might be curious and I'm always motivated by a desire to comfort and encourage others - but the divorce is still new. Plus, how would I share about it in three hundred words or less? After taking time to think about what I wanted to say, I can say this with joyous certainty: Jesus's grace is indeed sufficient. When I was weak, He was strong. He alone is powerful. Jesus's grace was sufficient when I Insisted on marrying even though God said no. Sufficient to keep me in a marriage that was difficult from the onset. Sufficient to enable me to grow in dry and rocky soil. Sufficient to give me two wonderful children I thought I'd never have. Sufficient for them to continue to flourish despite the divorce. Sufficient to forgive myself and my ex-husband for our considerable failures. Sufficient to know we can all have a good future when we keep Jesus as our focus. Sufficient to have a kind and cooperative relationship with my ex-husband now. Sufficient to see Him pouring out blessing upon blessing, grace upon grace. Jesus is more than able, more than willing, and more than enough. And none of it depends on my goodness. Hosanna! Isabella Campolattaro Faith Step: Reflect on a difficulty in your life. Invite Jesus to help you see His amazing grace. [Mornings With Jesus 2022 Devotional by Guideposts and Zondervan] COMMENTARY Sufficient Grace I thought the Christian life was going to be easier than this. Have these words ever entered your mind? Sometimes we come into the family of God thinking that our heavenly Father will fix all our problems and devote Himself to our happiness and comfort. However, that is not the reality portrayed in Scripture. Paul was a man whom the Lord used greatly, and yet his life was anything but easy. In fact, at one point, the apostle thought his pain was too much to bear, and he begged God to remove it. Theres nothing wrong with asking the Lord to relieve our suffering, but what should our response be if He doesnt? Paul probably had no idea that His experience would find its way into the Bible, to comfort and guide believers throughout the ages. The promise God gave him applies to us as well: My grace is sufficient for you (v. 9). Gods grace could be defined as His provision for us at the point of our need. The problem is that sometimes it doesnt seem as if the Lord truly is meeting our need. But He frequently sees deficiencies, outcomes, and complications that we dont. His goals for us involve spiritual growth, the development of Christlike character, and strong faith. And trials play a vital role in achieving these. The important issue is how we respond. If all you want is relief, you could descend into anger and doubt. But if your desire is to become the person God wants you to be, youll see each trial as an opportunity for Christ to display His character and strength in you. [In Touch Daily Devotional by Charles Stanley at www.intouch.org] How to Receive the Grace to Keep Going Through Troubles What do you do when you cant fix a problem, solve a riddle, change a circumstance, or control a hurt? You throw yourself on the sustaining grace of God. He offers you the kind of grace you need to keep going in spite of temptations, trials, tension, tiredness, and troubles. To accept his grace, do these four things: 1. Cry out for Gods help. When you pretend to be self-sufficient, you short-circuit Gods power in your life. You need to admit your inadequacy and say, God, I cant handle this! The Bible says, God is against the proud, but he gives grace to the humble. So give yourselves completely to God Come near to God, and God will come near to you (James 4:6-8 NCV). 2. Fill your mind with Gods Word. Let Gods Word comfort, strengthen, fill, soothe, and energize you to keep going. Get into it every single day of your life. The psalmist prayed, I lie in the dust; revive me by your word (Psalm 119:25 NLT). If you could find the solution within yourself, youd already be changed. You need to look to God! Hes the only one with sustaining strength. 3. Accept support from Gods people. The Bible says that, by helping each other with our troubles, we obey the law of Christ, which is, Love your neighbor as yourself. God never meant for you to go through life on your own. Our weaknesses help us realize how much we need each other. You need to accept support from Gods people. 4. Hold on to Gods promises. There are around 5,500 of them in the Bible waiting to be claimed. Heres one of them: He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint (Isaiah 40:29-31 NIV). Keep your hope in the Lord and your eyes focused on the hope of heaven, not just on the here and now. The Bible says, Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NIV). When youre going through a problem you cant fix, dont give up. Just look up! [Daily Devotional by Rick Warren: https://pastorrick.com/devotional/] His Strength in Your Weakness I didnt have an easy childhood. I came from a home that was broken many, many times over. But I can look back on my past today and instead of moaning about it, I can say, I went through that, and now I can comfort others. It has become a tool to help others. I wouldnt want to go through that again, of course. Nor would I want anyone else to go through the same thing. But Im thankful that God can take my past and use it for His glory today. Im thankful that He can take that hardship and use it for His glory. He can do the same for you. Maybe at this time in your life, youre going through some hard times, and youre wondering why. God will use it. Its hard to believe now. But just remember that it wont last forever. As 1 Peter 1:6"7 says, In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ (NKJV). Trials dont last forever. Im reminded of a sign posted at the end of an airport runway that reads, Keep moving. If you stop, you are in danger and a danger to those who are flying. You can take that same statement and apply it to the Christian life. Keep moving. Dont give up. Don't abandon hope. You are going to get through that valley in your life. There will be an even greater mountaintop beyond it, with great lessons you have learned as God demonstrated His strength in your weakness. [Greg Laurie from Harvest Ministries; https://www.harvestdaily.com] ILLUSTRATION Treasures in the Darkness My friend, David, lives on the edge. He's a quadriplegic, his wife left him after the car accident, he survives on government benefits, and lives alone in a little apartment downtown. After getting up in the morning, he more or less fends for himself after his part time attendant leaves. Despite all his struggles, David always orders the public access van on Saturday evening so that he can come to our church for Sunday services. "Who helps you with dinner?" I asked him once. David explained that he usually powers his wheelchair over to the Pizza Hut for dinner. "The Lord always provides someone to help," he laughed. "Sometimes it's one of the waiters on break. Or a stranger having dinner who offers to help. I can feed myself," he said proudly. "I just need someone to place the pizza in the curve of my hand just so. But Joni, I'll tell you something. All this helps me to depend on the Lord. I mean... I depend on him." David inspires me because he's not afraid to live on the edge. Somehow, he finds light in the darkness and hope in the midst of helplessness. And God has revealed to him the preciousness of Isaiah 45:3, where the Lord promises, "I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places so that you may know I am the Lord, the God of Israel, who summons you by name." Oh, how wealthy are the people who need God desperately; whose treasure in the darkness is a deeper knowledge of him. In the midst of your own darkness, there is treasure, and riches that could never be discovered in the light of ease and peace. Needing God desperately will always make you wealthy. Lord Jesus, you left the rainbow radiance of heaven to taste darkness and death for me... and bring me home to your Father's house. And even now, in the worst of times and deepest of sorrows, you have become my treasure and my hope. [Joni Eareckson Tada Daily Devotional: http://www.joniandfriends.org/daily-devotional re Daniel 2:22] CLOSING PEARL Not many people get excited about their weaknesses. Usually, we are embarrassed by them; we do everything possible to hide them; we cringe if people think we're a "weak person." That was me - at least back in the late sixties, when I was in high school. But a reckless diving accident several weeks after graduation changed all that. A broken neck left me a quadriplegic, without use of my hands or legs. There was no way I could hide a "limitation" like my wheelchair. I would wake up in the morning and cry out, "Oh God, I can't live this way.... I don't have the strength to face a life of paralysis." Then I stumbled onto 2 Corinthians 12:9. It began to dawn on me that my weakness might very well turn out to be a strength - it would force me into the arms of Jesus out of sheer desperation. And I learned that's not a bad place to be. Nearly forty years have passed, and I am still going to God every morning, urgently looking for help and hope. I have learned that my paralysis is my passport to peace, power, and a perspective sent straight from heaven. "Boasting in your weakness" is the Christian way to live. It's the biblical way. In fact, it is the only - the best - way to live! And I would rather be in my wheelchair needing Jesus than be on my feet without him. Joni Eareckson Tada, founder and CEO of Joni and Friends International Disability Center, is a national disability advocate and the author of more than forty books, including Joni, her best-selling autobiography. [The One Year Bible Live Verse Devotional] PRACTICAL APPLICATION Its all right to be human. When your mind wanders while you are praying, don't be surprised or upset. Simply return your attention to Me. Share a secret smile with Me, knowing that I understand. Rejoice in My Love for you, which has no limits or conditions. Whisper My Name in loving contentment, assured that I will never leave you or forsake you. Intersperse these peaceful interludes abundantly throughout your day. This practice will enable you to attain a quiet and gentle spirit, which is pleasing to Me. As you live in close contact with Me, the Light of My Presence filters through you to bless others. Your weakness and woundedness are the openings through which the Light of the knowledge of My Glory shines forth. My strength and power show themselves most effective in your weakness. (Deu. 31:6; 1 Pet. 3:4; 2 Cor. 4:6-7; 2 Cor. 12:9) [Jesus Calling by Sarah Young] LINKS FOR FURTHER STUDY ON THIS PASSAGE 2 Corinthians 12:9 - Power in Weakness. http://www.abible.com/devotions/2017/20170311-1953.html http://www.abible.com/devotions/2014/20140827-1650.html http://www.abible.com/devotions/2016/20160213-1454.html YOUR COMMENTS If anyone has a paraphrase, commentary or testimony on this passage of Scripture, either personal or otherwise, I would be interested in hearing from you. Thanks in advance and let's keep uplifting Jesus that all might be drawn to Him. Fred Gibbs LINKS WORTH CHECKING OUT Most Important Decision in Life: http://www.youtube.com/embed/WGnEuGwvXqU?rel=0 A Man without Equal by Bill Bright: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiVa7UoruIo Steps to Peace by Billy Graham: https://stepstopeace.org/ Seeking God Made Real: http://vimeo.com/31489782 Prayer Made Real: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tc8VdMV26VE LINKS FOR BIBLE STUDIES Lifting Up Jesus Bible Studies: http://www.liftingupjesus.net/ Amazing Facts Bible Studies: http://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/bible-study-guides.aspx Voice of Prophecy Discover Bible Study Guides: https://www.voiceofprophecy.com/study/discover Glow Tract Video Bible Studies: http://www.bibleresearch.info/ LINKS FOR BIBLE PROPHECY SEMINARS Unlocking Bible Prophecies by Cami Oetman of Adventist World Radio: https://www.awr.org/bible Panorama of Prophecy with Pastor Doug Batchelor: https://www.panoramaofprophecy.com/ Hope Awakens by John Bradshaw of IIW: https://itiswritten.tv/programs/hope-awakens Prophecies Decoded by Pastor Ron Clouzet: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1A435C5373550657 Islam and Christianity in Prophecy, The Third and Final Conflict by Tim Roosenberg: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHSJB-fuHLU&list=PLWhQIHGTHlkaGg5Cwe3NDzWtFX8vNSpsE