2 Corinthians 12:9
And
he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made
perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
So many of
us have experienced a year that has been full of trials, hardships, pains, and
perplexing circumstances. This has left some at the end of their rope, while
others are still trying to recover from the many blows that the enemy has
thrown. Some that seem to never go away…thorns in the flesh, if you will. Some
of us may be counting the days that are left in this year, while
anxiously looking forward to next one; hoping that it might bring a little more joy
and cheer; a few more hallelujahs; and a lot more favor!
But, let’s
go back for just a minute, before you break down 2015’s door! How do YOU think YOU did this year? We have preached, sung songs, read devotionals,
quoted scriptures, and found ourselves on a prayer line faithfully; we have
decreed and declared, cast out, rebuked, bound, and loosed, all in the name of
Jesus, but where has this year left us? They say, “It’s not what you been
through, but how you went through” right? Well, how are you? Did you make it
through unscaved? Did you barely make it through? Did you trust God more this
time than the last time? Did you trust him less? Where has this year left you?
I have had a
tough past few years…from losing my job in 2010, to losing my bank account, to
losing my home, having to take a $7.50/hr job, to recently living in a hotel
for a month and a half. Oh, and not to mention my strained marriage, and the
passing of my grandmother and the our beloved 1st Lady at my church!
I can tell you right now that it was by God’s Grace that I came through all of
that….Perfectly!
Now, some
may say, “did she just say that she came through Perfectly?” Well…yes, I did!
And I’m going to tell you how!
I have learned the difference between the sufficiency of Self and the sufficiency of Grace!
Let’s look
back at 2 Corinthians 12:9, where it says that my Grace is sufficient for you.
The word sufficient means that there is ENOUGH of whatever is needed for a
purpose. So, what God is saying here is,
“look, whatever you are going through, I am ALL you need to handle this! I am able to produce and provide
whatever it takes for you to make it through your problems! I AM GRACE…AND I AM
SUFFICIENT FOR YOU!
Now, let’s
talk about Self Sufficiency: When
you are self-sufficient; YOU are able to produce or provide whatever it is that
is needed for your own circumstances. In other words, YOU are self-supplying!
YOU are indeed ENOUGH of whatever is needed for YOUR circumstances. Let me just
talk about myself! It means that I am ENOUGH of whatever is needed to handle
all that life throws at me! I am my own sustainer…my own sufficience!
I learned a
long time ago, that there was a flaw in my sufficiency! I learned a long time
ago that I was indeed DE-FICIENT and could not provide half of what I needed to
make it through life’s journey! DE-FICIENT!...meaning that in and of myself, I
am lacking what is needed, and have nowhere near ENOUGH of what it takes to do
anything on my own! And if I fail to provide enough of what is needed…something
is left “wanting”...I began to
see God’s efficiency and my de-ficiency!
My so-called
efficiency left me with faults, but His was faultless! Mine was flawed, but his
was flaw-less! Mine, left me “wanting”…still needing! But his was ENOUGH! Mine
left me “impaired” (or in worse condition), His re-paired and made me better!
My efficiency left me “unsound” BUT GOD! He came that I might have the spirit
of a “sound mind”….My efficiency left me weak in my inability, but God’s
efficiency told me that because of HIS efficiency…because of HIS Grace…my
weakness is made strong!
You see
God’s grace IS sufficient and His sufficiency IS PERFECT! So, in these past few
years, I have learned to keep my eyes upon him at all times, and I am living
proof, that with God, you don’t just go through! …..You go through perfectly!
Reflection:
I had to
learn that when God said my grace is sufficient, he wasn’t just trying to be
cute with his words. He was letting Paul know, that, “hey, I know you going
through, I know it’s tough! But I have absolutely positively ALL that you need
for this storm, for this wilderness, for this season! I realized that there was
no way that I was better off, doing things my way than doing it God’s way! And
so I trusted Him every step of the way. Even through of tears of discomfort, I
trusted in his outcome! I felt safe in efficiency of His grace. So, although
your circumstances may not be perfect…God’s sufficiency IS perfect, the work
that he’s doing in you IS perfect, and the purpose that it is to accomplish…IS
perfect!
