"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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
"Is my grace sufficient for you?" This was the thought-provoking question God posed during a prayer session that leaned more complaint than lament. I was caught off guard by the inquiry, but even more alarmed by the discontentment in my response.
Usually, this question would be considered rhetorical, with an automatic answer of yes. But in that moment, instead of parroting the expected reply, I opted for honestly. In that moment, like many others before, I found no contentment in the sufficiency of God's grace. My disgruntled attitude derived no strength in the life giving gift of God's grace to see me through life's challenges. I just wanted my problems to melt away, carrying my suffering along with them.
I sat stunned as I considered the ramifications of my callus attitude towards God's grace. How did I reach a point where I would disregard the necessity of God's grace in favor of an effortless escape? More importantly, how would I get to a place of surrender that acknowledged God's grace as the only option for weathering the storms of life?
While I didn't have immediate answers to my questions, I found hope in God's mercy that withheld judgement while simultaneously humbling me in love. Over the next several months, I continued sit in the presence of God, allowing the the Holy Spirit to reshape my thoughts and emotions. Prayer guided me to a place of contentment while I learned to trust the sufficiency of God's grace. God's strength will take over in my moments of weakness, but only when my unwavering trust in Him produces a surrendered heart that enables the Holy Spirit to work through me.
How content are you with God's grace? How do you actively let God's grace work in your life?
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