Verse of the Day:
“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 about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
(2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV)
We Need God’s Grace
When my church asked me to step up as co-women’s coordinator, I envisioned a beautiful transition, gliding gracefully into a new season of ministry. I had vision. I had color-coded tabs for every ministry initiative. What I didn’t have was any idea what was coming next, but I was about to find out.
It looked a lot more like Peter stepping out of the boat. Confident ONE moment, followed by a near-drowning experience when I noticed the waves around me. It was as if life looked at my plans and said, “That’s cute. Watch this.”
The storms didn’t politely wait until I’d settled into my new role. They came raging in. My marriage hit rocky waters. My children’s health became a constant concern. My own body began to betray me. And suddenly, my coordinated ministry plans were replaced by hospital waiting rooms and teary midnight prayers.
Have you ever found yourself there? One minute walking on water with Jesus, the next minute gasping for air.
Paul’s Example
Paul’s confession in 2 Corinthians 12:9 emerges from his own place of need. Writing to a church community he loved but who questioned his leadership, Paul reveals his “thorn in the flesh”, a persistent affliction that left him vulnerable and hurting.
“Three times he begged God for relief. The answer wasn’t removal but: “My grace is sufficient for you.”
This, was God’s promise, that His supernatural enabling power would show up, exactly where Paul needed it most.
When I first truly understood that God’s grace is enough, it washed over me like a wave.
This grace is the kind that meets you at 2 AM when you’ve run out of strength. Bringing peace that doesn’t make sense when everything is falling apart. It’s the whispered “I’m here” when the silence is deafening.
What is this grace exactly?
The word “grace” comes from the Greek word “charis,” meaning unmerited favor.
It’s God’s face turned toward you, with blessings.
Like the passage from Numbers 6:24-26:
“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.”
God’s favor means, His face is on you. He sees you. He is keeping you, and He is holding you up when you have no strength left to stand.
God’s grace is enough because it comes with everything we need.
The Breakthrough Moment:
With confidence, I knew God was calling me to help take over the women’s ministry. After prayer and deliberation, I said yes.
But…
This is when everything fell apart on the heels of that yes. I unknowingly walked into one of the hardest years of my entire life.
Before this perfect storm, I was an absolute perfectionist (cue the gasps of recognition from all my Type-A sisters out there).
I always thought I could work my way out of any situation. Sure, God would be there to help, but mostly as my cheerleader while I handled things.
The fatal flaw?
I had confused the source of my strength with… well, me.
My strength was never in my ability to produce. It was God’s grace that carried me through it all.
It’s God’s grace that carries you.
And suddenly, leading that women’s ministry from a place of utter dependence became the most authentic thing I’d ever done.
Why?
Our weaknesses, when surrendered to God, become the very channels that His power flows through most. And honestly? It’s way more fun than perfectionism—though slightly messier!
Why We Struggle to Embrace God’s Sufficient Grace:
We find it hard to trust in God’s grace when:
– We’ve built our identity around being the “strong one”
– We confuse vulnerability with failure
– We’ve learned to measure our worth by our performance
– We believe that God’s grace means the obstacles in our lives are removed.
Did you notice that God never actually removed Paul’s thorn? Instead, His grace sustained Paul through it. That’s the pattern we see throughout scripture. We see God’s grace, not in our struggles but in His presence with us THROUGH them.
Remember what David wrote in Psalm 23:4? “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me.” The emphasis is on the word “through.” God’s grace doesn’t always airlift us out of the valley—it walks with us through it. It sustains us in the shadow places.
The beauty of God’s grace isn’t that it prevents us from experiencing hardship—it’s that it prevents hardship from having the final word in our story.
Like Paul, we can learn to boast in our weaknesses because they showcase the power of God’s ever lasting grace.
Remember This:
Sweet sister, your weakness isn’t your liability, it’s your opportunity. In the kingdom of God, broken things become the most beautiful things, and insufficient people showcase sufficient grace.
Your Next Step:
Today, identify one specific area where you feel inadequate. Instead of, hiding it, or trying to overcome it through sheer determination, try this:
PRAY!
Remember through Bible tells us to come bodly before the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16)
Journaling Prompts:
1. Identify Your “Peter Moment”: Describe a time when, like Peter, you stepped out in confidence only to find yourself overwhelmed by the waves. How did God’s grace show up for you in that moment? What did you learn about His sufficiency?
2. Your Thorn and His Grace: What is your current “thorn in the flesh”—that persistent challenge that won’t go away despite your prayers? Write a letter to God acknowledging this weakness and inviting His power to be made perfect in this exact place.
3. From Perfectionism to Grace: In what areas of your life are you still trying to be “enough” through your own efforts? How might surrendering these areas to God’s sufficient grace change your approach? What would it look like to boast in these weaknesses instead of hiding them?
Scripture to Verse Map:
Isaiah 40:28-31
Philippians 4:13
Psalm 73:26
James 4:6
2 Corinthians 4:7-10
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