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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Nobody likes to hear ‘no’ when longing for a ‘yes’. Such a tiny word, and yet it has the ability to leave us feeling rejected, unloved, forgotten, unwelcome, unwanted, forsaken. It is kind of frightening how much power that little word can have – the power to make us feel powerless. Because of this, there is now a whole industry out there whose aim it is to take us to a place where we no longer feel powerless, but empowered. Some of the advice given is good, but it is not wholly perfect. Not every pain can be healed; not every diagnosis can be cured; not every relationship can be salvaged. We are limited in what we have the power to do. But there is one who is not.
According to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being. Ephesians 3:16
The apostle Paul knew what it was like to ask for something and for it to be denied. He had been afflicted with, what we can only assume was, a physical hindrance, and he wanted it taken away. God said no. However, He didn’t just leave it at that and walk away, leaving Paul to cope on his own. In the place of healing, God gave him grace and power.
We often hear it said that when we bring our petition to God, He will either answer yes, yes but not yet (wait), or no. What is evident from today’s verse though, is that God doesn’t just say no, He says, ‘No, but…’ because with God we are not rejected, unloved, forgotten, unwelcome, unwanted, or forsaken. When we pass through the waters, He is with us (Isaiah 43:2), and when we are powerless, He increases strength (Isaiah 40:29).
Sufficient grace may be one of the hardest things for the Christian to accept and (if accepted) to explain. It is not a physical empowerment to cope with things on our own, but a power through His Spirit in our inner being, enabling us to do all things through Him who gives us strength.
Father God, help me to recognise the ‘BUT’ when you say no, and to realise that I am not left to face my circumstances alone. Help me, Lord, to see your grace and power at work in my life, carrying me through the disappointment and strengthening my spirit. I thank you that you are my all-sufficient God. Amen.
Narrow Path Ministries 