“My Grace Is Sufficient For You”

…Even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:7-10

If you have a friend who is unmarried, there is a chance he faces constant temptations to his sexual drive. The same is true for those born with money, or to those who are handsome or beautiful or who have particular charismatic powers. We learn from discipline, community and constant pleas of dependence. We learn control from Jesus.

God values character more than our comfort, often using the very elements that cause us the most discomfort as His tools in fashioning that character. This was true of the apostle Paul who prayed for a thorn to be removed.

In our own lives, we try to remain open to new realities, not blaming God when our expectations go unmet but trusting Him to lead us through failures toward renewal and growth.

When God sent His own Son – sinless, full of grace and healing – we killed him. God Himself allows what He does not prefer, to achieve some greater goal.

God uses our difficulties to develop His Son’s likeness in us.

Our Daily Bread – June 27, 2008