“My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
We serve an awesome God who is able to do above all that we could ever ask or think of. I’ve been in situations however, where I have asked God for certain things, and believed that He would do it, only to be hit with the harsh reality that what I was asking for would not come to fruition. I know situations like these may be confusing to the believer. “God, You told me that I only need to ask without doubting, and whatever I ask for, that I shall receive. Well God, I asked You, and I haven't received.” What do you do? Do you take the posture of defeat? Do you begin to question the validity of Scripture? Consider the following example:
(True story) There once was a man who had been on his way to commit an abominable sin. On his way, however, the King of Kings met him where He was, gave him a new name, and a new identity. This man had been called to be a servant of the Most High, not by the will of man, but by the will of God Almighty. This man was considered to be a Hebrew of Hebrews, and blameless (according to the righteousness of the law). Nevertheless, all things that were once gain to this man, he counted loss for Christ. For the sake of His Savior, Jesus Christ, this man suffered the loss of all things. God had strengthened this man to be a mighty warrior for the Kingdom; an Ambassador of Christ. Still yet, this man had suffered from a thorn in his flesh (what he considered to be a messenger of satan) to buffet him, lest he be exalted above measure. Knowing that God was fully able, he asked Him to remove this thorn. Not once did He inquire of the Lord, but 3 times! The thorn remained. Jesus’ responded with, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” As opposed to taking on a defeated posture, this man began to do what only one who trusts in the Author and Finisher of his faith could. He began to boast all the more in his weakness that the power of Christ would rest upon him. For this man knew that when he was weak, in Christ Jesus, he was strong. (Again, true story).
I tell this story for you to challenge yourselves. We know that our King tells us that we need only ask, believe, not doubt, that we may receive. But what is your posture if you don’t receive the way in which you desire? Remember, God’s thoughts are not that of our own, but far surpass ours. Do you believe this? When you ask God for something, and He simply tells you, “My grace is sufficient for you, my beloved,” do you still believe Him? Is His grace sufficient for you? God’s desire is to sanctify those whom He calls His own. Yes, I may be asking God to remove this thorn in my flesh, and I believe that He is more than able to do so. But if His will is to complete the good work that He began in me until the day of Chirst Jesus (that is my sanctification), I will rest in Him if He says, “My grace is sufficient for you.” The man in the aforementioned example had desired for the thorn in his flesh to be removed. But God, being concerned with this man's sanctification, and having thoughts far above his own, knew that this thorn was to keep this man with a humble posture. This man’s will was for this thorn to be taken away, but God’s will for this man was for him to be sanctified.
Furthermore, absolutely, make your requests known to God. But do not forget to check your motives. For the word of God tells us that we have the ability to ‘ask and not receive, because we ask amiss, that we may spend it on our pleasures,’ (James 4:3). Lastly, when we ask God, we are to ask with a humble spirit. “Father, here is what I desire, but nevertheless, not my will, but Your will be done.” Family, we don’t always get exactly what we want, and exactly when we want it. And despite what you or I think we know, what we want is not always what we need. Not only this, but the things that we may want, are not always things that will bring glory to our Father in heaven. But trust that God has your best interest at heart. No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Rest in this.
When God tells you, “My grace is sufficient for you,” believe that He is still who He said He is. Hold on to the fact that Jesus has you in His hand and NOTHING will snatch you out. Our God will never permit the righteous to be moved.
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