His Grace is Enough

His Grace is Enough

II Corinthians Chapter 12:7-9 says “he has a thorn in his flesh, and he had pleaded three times. Lord, take it away. But he said to me, My grace is sufficient for you. For my strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ power may rest on me.” Paul was writing this letter to the Church of Corinth, and in some of the other podcasts, I speak on how Paul was in prison, sending letters of encouragement, checking on the people, reassuring them, and letting the people know his status. Paul’s letters were personal, heartfelt, and uplifting. He was making sure God’s word lived on in the people.

That thorn is something Paul struggled with. We don’t know exactly. It could have been physical, mental temptation or external, but it was uncomfortable for Paul while also being used by God for his benefit. Paul says Satan is the one causing this pain and God is allowing it. However, the pain is not in vain. God is turning it around; He is turning his weaknesses into something good.

How many of us have had some thorns or are being poked right now?

I was placed in a situation a few weeks ago and I cried at least 24 hours. I could not process the fact that I was being accused of something that I would never, ever do. It’s just not me. Once I friend you or call you family, it is just that and so that situation was a thorn for me. But then God spoke through some people and the revelation came. We want to be close with God. At least we say. We at least say we will, or we do. Then God has us go through some stuff. That will leave thorns to test us, and we cave. In these thorns God builds our character, causing some to be intimidated by you and all you’ve done was enter a room. Pass your test and stand. We say all the time. Lord use me, but when that heat comes, its Lord why me? Then He replies with, why not you. When he used me, I cried for 24 hours, trying to make sense of it all. It hurt, caused a great pain, had me step away from some things, but it also caused something even greater for the other person who was going through some thorns as well.

After speaking with those close to me, I had to go back to God and say I’m sorry. Though I will never know what your test will look like, I must keep my heart right. So, then look at Paul. Paul knows, like Solomon, that stuff doesn’t matter. Paul knows that if you have nothing on this fleshly side, that Jesus is more than enough. We be focusing on everything we want instead of what’s right in front of us, the gifts that we already have. Instead of looking at the thorns, we need to look at God’s grace, and His grace is enough.

Let’s talk about weakness. When you are weak, you tend to cry out. Whether it is to a friend, spouse, parents, spiritual leader, whoever it is and when what they say is not enough, you then learn how to express to God. When that is where you should have begun. You should always start with your spirit man, and then you communicate with the flesh afterwards. When we are weak, we tend to want to listen and take advice. We are open and that is when God’s power is greatest. When we are at our weakest, we have to be gracefully broken, all the way down. Sometimes we must have multiple thorns to help us grow, to draw us closer to the Most High. We need Gods abundant grace. When we are high and mighty, we don’t hear God. We don’t even care to communicate, but when those thorns come in our lives, we have some of the best conversations with God. That’s all He wants is a conversation. Some of these storms are to get our attention, causing us to pray, fast, meditate, communicate with the Most High. Some of those storms are for the other person to teach them whatever it is they have been questioning all the while building strength, trust, casting doubt, on all who is involved. Some thorns never leave and get worse. Some thorns are caused by the choices we make, and some thorns are just destined to be. No matter the situation, all thorns give us a reason to cry out to God.

If you look around you and your past, no matter your age, God’s grace is sufficient. So, today no matter what life looks like. Trust that if God is the author and the finisher of this life, that he has already figured this thing out. Our flesh is weak. It wants to control, but our higher power is the one in control. Don’t miss out on the goodness of God because you won’t forgive, or you are stubborn, or you want to control your outcome. God says cast your cares on me. Believe. Have faith. See past your eyes. Some diagnosis is hard to receive. Some grief is hard to overcome. Some friendships are hard to let go of, but if it does not add value to you, let it go and allow God’s grace to be enough. God is a merciful God. He is a forgiving God, trusting God, a providing God. He gives light to those dark places, those places we thought we would never overcome. God is awesome.

As I reflect over the 45 years that he has allowed me to grace this earth. I shouldn’t be here. When I lived with my aunt in Texas rest her soul. She did a tarot card reading on me and the death card was pulled. She said I would not make it to see 25. I have flashes of moments in my life to this day. I see many times where my life could have ended BUT GOD saw a new me. He knows my name. A me others could not see. Now that I am older that card meant change. We don’t always accept the thought of change, but change is good. If you are routine change, it up. No one should know your schedule better than you. They can set you up. Life will set you up. They had me cast out and destroyed But God. But my grandfather! He spoke to me on his death bed and said little momma get it together. I won’t be here to save you. So, I am so grateful, and I continue to give the people Him, because that’s what this is all about, giving the people the good news. God loved me so much, that He allowed me to make it to 45. And if you are not out here sharing, spreading the good news, then what are you doing? We should be asking ourselves that every day. Are we wasting our time? Are we adding value to our time? What is it that we are doing in our time that is positive? If we are taking in all this negative stuff, then the outcome is going to be negative. But if we can wake up with a smile and plant seeds and deposit seeds of greatness into somebody else, one word at a time, one open door at a time, one bag carry at a time. Then you are definitely on the right track.

So, on my birthday, I want to tell you that God’s grace is enough. God’s grace is sufficient, and that is just the place to be with God. Be patient. Be strong. God has something waiting. Keep going. Stop looking back. Receive the blessings. Stop shutting down the blessings of God. God’s timing is everything. His ways are not our ways. His thoughts are not our thoughts.

This is my His Grace is enough Chapter!

And on that note, if you hang in there with me, I’ll hang in there with you. Peace. 😊