My Grace Is Sufficient for You

"My grace is sufficient for you" (2 Cor. 12:9). Paul penned these words as he thought back to a time of pain and suffering. As he dealt with his "thorn in the flesh" (v. 7), he "implored the Lord three times that it might leave" (v. 8). And these words were the Lord's answer to him.

But there was more. Christ went on: "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness" (v. 9a). Paul's thoughts likely went to the cross. As Jesus hung there in pain and suffering, He said to one of the thieves being crucified with Him, the one who believed, "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise" (Luke 23:43). His message to this thief was the same as His message to Paul, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Cor. 12:9a, NIV).

Paul responded: "Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake, for when I am weak, then I am strong" (vv. 9b-10).

Let me tell a story about a young man who served as a youth pastor in the Applewood area of north Denver while in Seminary. Each summer the boys of this youth group went on a camping trip. The summer of 1979 was no different. The youth pastor and three boys ages 15, 16, and 17 went canoeing and camping for a week on the boundary waters between northern Minnesota and Canada. Their prayer was for God to reveal Himself to them through their experience in the wilderness of His creation.

It was a great week of canoeing and fishing and swimming and camping. It was a fun time and there would be many memories. Then, on the last night, everything changed. Camp was set, dinner was finished, fishing was great; several northern pike had met their match.

Then, out of nowhere, a storm came sweeping onto the lake. They quickly got to shore and into the tent. It was a violent storm and lightning was everywhere, so they began to count the time between the lightning and thunder. Seven seconds; six seconds; four seconds; two; one. Suddenly the lightning and thunder was simultaneous. A huge bolt of lightning exploded right inside the tent. It tore through the door of the tent and struck the youth pastor in the side, lifting him in the air, using him as its ground, leaving a large hole in the rock beneath him. It also left him unconscious. The lightning scattered up Doug’s side leaving him semiconscious. The two older boys, Chip and Bob, were rolled into the corners of the tent. Great destruction was everywhere.

I remember thinking as I was lifted in the air—yes, I was that youth pastor—"Lord, take me home if that is your will. I am ready." But I soon realized that I was still alive. However, I couldn't feel my legs. I thought they had been blown off by the lightning. I couldn't look, so I didn't. For some twenty minutes I just laid there, completely still.

Chip took the lead as they assessed the situation. Thinking I was dead, they began trying to help Doug. Eventually I decided I had to look at my legs, so I opened my eyes with a groan; the boys later said it was more of a scream. My legs were fine, but I couldn't feel them or move them. After another thirty minutes, the feeling came back and I was able to get up and about.

We joined hands and prayed. Doug asked God to quiet the storm. Immediately, the storm let up, the lightning ceased, and only a light sprinkle remained. We bedded down for the night. There was no way to get out in the dark.

I couldn't sleep. I kept reliving the scene over and over again. I was sure it was the same for the boys. So I prayed silently, "Lord, send help. Just someone to reassure us that all would be alright."

Immediately, the lightning started up again. I thought, "That wasn't what I asked." But then we heard the clanking of a canoe getting off the lake at our landing to escape the lightning. We got their attention, and one of the men said he was a doctor from the closest hospital. He said our wounds were "superficial," and he cleaned them and gave us directions to a boy scout camp on the next lake. We headed there in the morning.

After four hours of canoeing, a twenty minute drive to our outfitters, and an hour and a half drive to the hospital, we received the treatment we needed. As the nurse cleaned my wounds she was obviously shaken. Doug asked if she had cleaned lightning wounds before. She said, "Yes, but never any this bad. Only a direct hit would cause wounds this bad. Then they are taken to the morgue, not the emergency room."

As I laid there, my thoughts went to Jesus and the cross. I could picture Him hanging on the cross looking at me and saying, "My grace is sufficient for you." There was nothing to fear. No matter what happened He would always be there watching over Me. I could trust Him.

That is His message to you from the cross as well. Trust Him at all times and in all things. He will watch over you. He will take care of you.

Through His death and resurrection, Jesus extends His power to us. By faith He comes to indwell us and His power resides within us. Paul realized this truth. Christ said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness" (v. 9a, NIV).

It is His power that gives us our strength. That is why Paul was able to respond as he did. No amount of pain, no amount of adversity, no amount of suffering, could ever stop him from trusting Jesus. In all things, Christ was with him and in him, giving him strength to endure and to witness for Christ. "For when I am weak, then I am strong" (v. 10b), is how Paul put it.

Come to the cross. Reach out your hands toward Jesus. Trust Him by faith and face each situation that comes your way through Him—through His strength which resides in you. His grace is sufficient for you. His power is made perfect in weakness. When you are weak, He is your strength. Amen.