Pleading

 2 Corinthians 12:8 ESV

 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 


What was God's response to the Apostle Paul's pleading for relief from his suffering? Did God give Paul a painkiller to make him feel better and to numb the pain? No.

To the uninitiated, God's response seems trite at best and callous at worst. God insisted that his grace was sufficient for Paul. He assured him that God's power is made perfect in our weakness.

If we're strangers to the grace of God we might presumptuously assume that we're entitled to a life free of suffering. If we understand God's grace rightly, we'll know that it is an undeserved gift. It is God's love poured out on us, that we could never earn.

The Good News isn't that God sees us as worthy of salvation. The good news is that even though we're too weak to save ourselves, and unworthy of salvation, God pours it out upon us anyway. Praise his holy name!

'Heavenly Father, help us know and to feel that your grace is enough for us. In Jesus' name, amen'.

 


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