How is God's grace sufficient for us?

One of the commonalities that we all share is weakness.  As human beings, we each have weaknesses and limitations, and our circumstances can often give us reminders of what those weaknesses happen to be.

Several days ago, I was working in my back yard.  At the edge of my yard, there is a hill that ascends toward my neighbor’s property.  I have a variety of things planted on the hill, but from time to time, I need to walk through that area and pull weeds.  Based on what has been growing there, this week was the ideal time to take on that task.

 As I worked my way through the hill, I came to some weeds that were particularly difficult to pull, but I fought with them anyway.  Then, seemingly out of the blue, something went wrong with my lower back.  I’m guessing I either pulled a muscle or pinched a nerve, but I’ve been in pain ever since.  For the past few days, the weakness of my lower back has been on full display.

 As the apostle Paul ministered during his generation, the Lord blessed him with many amazing experiences, gifts, and strengths, but God also made sure that Paul knew that he would need to rely on the grace of Christ to grant him the daily strength he needed.  The strength of Christ working through Paul would supersede any of Paul’s inherent weaknesses.  There’s a good reminder in the words the Holy Spirit spoke through Paul to the church in Corinth.

“I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. 3 And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— 4 and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. 5 On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— 6 though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me.”  (2 Cor. 12:1-6)

 There’s something refreshingly honest about the apostle Paul. He’s a man who had experienced remarkable revelations from God, but rather than parading them around as proof of his spiritual superiority, he walked a different path—the path of humility. 

 In 2 Corinthians 12:1–6, Paul acknowledged an extraordinary experience: being caught up into what he referred to as the “third heaven.” This was a direct encounter with the very paradise of God. Yet, the way he recounted it was cautious and restrained. Paul even referred to himself in the third person while speaking of his experience.  It appears he may have been attempting to distance his ego from the glory of the moment.

 Paul stated, “I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it…” (v. 1). He knew the Corinthians had often been swayed by false teachers who exalted themselves through spectacular claims and spiritual experiences that they were most likely making up. In contrast, Paul said, “There’s no real value in boasting about visions.” Yes, he had them. Yes, they were divinely given to him. But he also knew that these experiences didn’t make him more valuable or more loved in the eyes of God than any other believer. Our standing before the Lord is not dependent on mystical encounters but on the grace of Christ.

 Paul’s description of being “caught up into paradise” (v. 3–4) is remarkable. He heard things “that cannot be told,” mysteries too holy for human speech. This wasn’t fiction or exaggeration—it was a real, God-ordained event. But Paul’s reluctance to dwell on it teaches us something vital: spiritual maturity is not measured by visions, but by obedience, love, and Christ-centered humility.

 Rather than boasting in this experience, Paul turned the spotlight in an unexpected direction: “On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses” (v. 5). What a profound perspective. While others might seek to impress people with power or prestige, Paul said, “Let me tell you what I’ll boast in—my weaknesses.” Why? Because Paul understood that in his weakness, the power of Christ is made visible.

 In verse 6, Paul added, “If I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth.” Yet even in saying this, he showed restraint. He didn’t want the Corinthians to form their opinions of him based on his hidden spiritual experiences. He wanted them to see the evidence of Christ in his life, in what they “saw” and “heard.”

 When I read these comments from Paul, I see a challenge.  His words challenge us to examine what we value most in our spiritual walk. Are we seeking impressive experiences, or are we content to walk humbly with Jesus? Do we crave spiritual status, or do we boast in the cross and our need for grace?

 With the help the Holy Spirit supplies, we can resist the temptation to exalt ourselves and instead find joy in the simplicity of Christ’s sufficiency. The highest revelation we can boast in is this: that while we are inherently weak, Christ is strong, and He chooses to dwell within us.

“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.”  (2 Cor. 12:7-8)

 One of the most puzzling and yet relatable confessions the Apostle Paul ever made is found in these verses. After describing being caught up into the glories of heaven and hearing things too holy to repeat, Paul began speaking of a mysterious thorn in his flesh.

“So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh…” (v. 7). Paul had been entrusted with divine mysteries. He had experienced the presence of God in a way few ever will. But along with that blessing came a burden—a constant, painful reminder of his humanity and limitations.

 Paul doesn’t name his thorn. I have often wondered what it was.  Some speculate it was a physical ailment, like poor eyesight or a form of chronic pain. Others believe it may have been emotional or spiritual torment, or relentless opposition in ministry. But in God’s wisdom, the specifics are left out, and that’s a gift. We all have our own thorns, don’t we? We all have weaknesses, lingering sorrows, and struggles we thought we’d outgrow. Without knowing what Paul was wrestling with, we can see a glimpse of our struggle in his.  Whatever our “thorn” happens to be, Christ can use it to humble us.  Our thorns will remind us to remain dependent on Him and will often prompt us to devote ourselves to prayer.

 Paul said, “Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me” (v. 8). He didn’t casually ask God to take it away—he pleaded. He begged. And who can blame him? Thorns hurt. They irritate, distract, and wear us down. We often assume that if God loves us, He’ll remove anything painful from our lives. But here we see something deeper: God sometimes leaves the thorn in place because He loves us too much to let us drift into pride.  This is one of the hardest lessons I have had to learn in my walk with the Lord.  It’s a lesson I’m still very much in the process of learning.

 Paul recognized that the thorn had purpose. It wasn’t random. It wasn’t meaningless. It was given to keep him from becoming conceited. It was both a hindrance and a safeguard. It tormented him, but it also kept him anchored to the grace of God. Without the thorn, Paul may have been tempted to take credit for the work of the Holy Spirit, but with it, he remained dependent.

 Sanctification is a gradual work of the Holy Spirit in our lives that is meant to produce holiness within us.  This is one of God’s highest priorities for us.  We don't often welcome the idea that God might allow us to suffer in order to sanctify us, but that’s what was happening here. Paul’s pain served a redemptive purpose. It drove him to Jesus. It reminded him that spiritual strength is born, not in self-confidence, but in surrendering our weakness to Jesus and relying on His strength.

 If you’ve been pleading with God to take a particular pain away or relieve you of a persistent trial, and the thorn still remains, you’re not alone. You aren’t forgotten. His delay is not denial. His silence is not absence. Sometimes, the thorn stays because the lesson is still unfolding.  The holiness and maturity that God is forming in you through your thorn will bear fruit that far outlasts the pain.

 And the same God who allowed the thorn is the One who walks with you through it.

"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 Cor. 12:9)

 It’s not easy to admit our weaknesses. We’d rather display strength, competence, and control. We want to be seen as dependable and resilient, not fragile or needy. But Paul flipped that idea on its head when he said that our moments of greatest weakness are actually the perfect stage for God to show the strength of His grace.

 When Paul wrote these words, he was describing a persistent burden that he had begged God to take away. The Lord’s answer (and timing) wasn’t what Paul might have hoped. God didn’t remove the struggle. Instead, He gave a promise: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

 That’s not the answer many of us want when we’re suffering or exhausted. We want God to remove the pain, fix the problem, or make us stronger. But sometimes, instead of taking the burden away, God gives us Himself in the midst of it. And what He gives is more than enough.

 God’s grace isn’t just a distant idea, it’s His personal presence, His sustaining strength, and His unchanging favor poured into our hearts. When we’re weak, we finally stop pretending to be self-sufficient. That’s when we begin to lean fully on Him and experience the power of Christ more fully.

 Paul didn’t just accept his weakness, he boasted in it. Why? Because weakness becomes a helpful invitation to experience Christ’s power in a deeper, more personal way. The Christian life isn’t about impressing God or others with our spiritual performance. It’s about abiding in the One who is strong when we are not.

 This passage invites us to a deeper kind of freedom than this world is familiar with. We don’t have to hide our struggles. We don’t have to pretend we have it all together. We can come to God honestly, just as we are, and trust that His grace will meet us right where we are.

 Do you feel weary and overwhelmed? Do you feel underequipped for what’s in front of you? That doesn’t disqualify you from the work God wants to do through you.  In some ways, it makes you the perfect candidate.  It puts you in the position to give Him the most glory.

“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  (2 Cor. 12:10)

As Paul concludes this passage, he does so with a perspective that inspires me.  Earlier in my Christian walk, I had the mistaken impression that I would experience fewer trials and less difficulties once I followed Jesus, but that’s not accurate.  I don’t think I’ve experienced fewer difficulties, just different ones than I would have experienced if I was attempting to live without Him.

 And the beautiful part of the difficulties I’ve faced is that I can be confident that I don’t face them alone.  Christ is with me.  He is with each of us who trust in Him.  And in Him, we can experience true contentment no matter what takes place in life.  We can be content in Christ when our weaknesses become obvious to us.  We can also be content in Christ when we’re insulted, face hardships, experience persecution, or endure unexpected calamities.  

 The grace of God is truly sufficient for us.  It took Paul much of his life to learn that lesson, and it may take us a while to fully appreciate that trust as well, but our human limitations and unforeseen trials really do provide the perfect opportunity for Jesus to display His power and presence in our lives.

© John Stange, 2025