“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 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. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:7-10
In the above scripture, what does God mean when He says “My grace is sufficient?” In order to rightly divide what God is saying, we need to keep it in context with the rest of scriptures. If taken out of context, this scripture could be interpreted incorrectly and cause many to put up with circumstances they were never meant to accept.
First, let’s look at Jesus’s time on earth. Jesus said, “When you have seen me you have seen the Father”. Therefore, we can conclude that whatever Jesus did on earth was God’s perfect will. When you read through the gospels you find that every time someone asked Jesus for healing they received it. There is NOT ONE documented case of Jesus telling someone He wasn’t going to heal them because their infirmity brought God glory. Rather, the contrary. The healings and miracles brought God the glory. Therefore we can conclude that the above scripture, where God tells Paul “My Grace is Sufficient” could not mean that He wants Paul to just endure the infirmity and that it will somehow give God glory. Instead, it must mean something very different.
In order to get a better understanding, let’s look at what it means in context with the rest of scriptures and the covenantal promises of God. Remember, Jesus said in John 14, 15 and 16, if we ask anything in His name, God will do it. This is what brings glory to the Father in the Son. Our prayers getting answered is what brings Glory to God. Being delivered from our infirmities is what gives God glory! Jesus said in Mark 11, that we can have whatsoever things we say if we believe in our hearts and do not doubt. Therefore he tells us, whatever things we desire, when we pray, believe we receive them and we shall have them.
You may say, “Well that didn’t work for Paul. He asked God to take the infirmity away and he said He wouldn’t. He said His grace was sufficient.”
Notice, God did not answer by saying to Paul that he must keep his infirmities. He said: “My Grace is Sufficient…” Paul had already gotten the revelation of the authority we have in Christ on the earth. All you have to do is read Ephesians to see this revelation. Paul even wrote, by the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 3, that God will do exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think according to the power that works in us. Paul had such a great revelation of this authority that we have through Christ, that the devil, (not God) sent a thorn in the flesh to try to stop Paul from walking in the light of this revelation. Due to the intense pressure, Paul ended up turning to God and saying in essence “You take this away”. God responds by reminding him that everything has already been done by His Grace. All Paul has to do is have faith in that grace and exercise his authority over the infirmity and it must go! God’s grace is sufficient, because Jesus already did everything necessary to give us the victory by Grace. Now all we have to do is take our God given authority and enforce it!
By stating it in terms of “My grace is sufficient”, He’s reminding Paul of the importance of his resting in God’s promises and the power of Christ in him. We don’t have to wrestle anymore. Instead we rest! In the Old Testament, Jacob wrestled with the Lord and wouldn’t let him go until he blessed him. He got the blessing all right, but he also ended up with an injured hip socket because of the wrestling. We have a new and better covenant, built on better promises. God wants us to rest; not worry, not toil, not wrestle. Don’t wrestle for your blessing. Learn to rest and be blessed. Rest in the Grace God has already provided. God’s Grace is sufficient!
Now that we’ve seen what God meant by “My grace is sufficient.” Let’s look at how to apply it. A perfect example of this in action is in Acts 16, where Paul and Silas are thrown in prison. They perfectly demonstrated what it is to rest in God’s grace.
Paul and Silas didn’t allow fear or discouragement to choke them into complaining, becoming despondent, or angry. Instead, they rested on the fact that God’s grace was sufficient to turn the situation to their favor and work for their good. They praised and thanked God, knowing they had the victory through Christ! They praised God loudly! Of course, God turned everything to their favor and many lives were transformed because of it.
Another great example is when Paul survived a violent shipwreck. The ship was destroyed, but everyone on it survived and made it safely to the island of Malta. Once ashore, Paul gathered sticks for a fire. As he did, a venomous snake latched onto Paul’s hand. However, he now had the revelation that God’s grace was sufficient for the situation. He simply RESTED in God’s covenant promises, shook off the snake and continued making the fire. The villagers expected him to drop over dead. Instead, it was as if nothing had happened. God’s grace was sufficient! Paul knew that Greater is He that is in Him, than He that is in the world! As a result, there was a great outbreak of healings in the village at Paul’s hands because he understood the authority he had through God’s grace and how to rest in that grace. Notice in this example, the infirmity was the venom coursing into his hand from the bite that should have killed him. How was God’s grace sufficient? The anointing (power) of God in Paul through Christ, not only kept him from dying, but kept him in perfect health, as if nothing at all had happened. This is how our infirmities bring glory to God! As He is able to show His loving kindness to us through His covenant and grace by giving us the victory! By turning what the enemy meant for evil to our good!
Let’s do the same. Stop wrestling and just rest. God wants to bless you, more than you want to be blessed! Let Him, by trusting in His grace and the authority you’ve been given in Christ Jesus. God’s grace is sufficient in your life as well! Take the authority you have, do as Jesus said in Mark 11 and speak to your circumstances in faith, knowing His Word will work. Then Praise and Thank God for the victory and rest in God’s grace!
Ephesians 1:16-23
“Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.”
Ephesians 2:5-7
“Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.”
Ephesians 3:1-12
For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
Ephesians 3:14-21
“ For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. NOW UNTO HIM THAT IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDING ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE ASK OR THINK, ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKETH IN US, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”
Luke 10:19-20
“Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven.”
Mark 11:22-24
“And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.”
John 14:10-14
“Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works’ sake. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father. And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”
John 16:23-24
“And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”
Romans 8:28
“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
1 John 4:4
“Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”
For further reading see Genesis 32: 24-32, Acts 16 & Acts 28
