Grace is Sufficient

Take a look at this verse from 2 Corinthians 12 (verse 9)

but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

I think that there are many things that this verse might say to us -- many messages that God could send to us through these words. I think that on the surface, it reminds us that in our weakness, we can allow God's strength to fill us, to move us, to surround us. In our weakness, we find God.

This evening, another layer of understanding was added to the idea of grace for me.

I was listening to a member of our church, who is pursuing ordained minister, discuss his call. He talked about how small he felt next to the task. He felt so small that he felt, as we would say, unequal to the task. In fact, his sense of "smallness" was stopping him.

Until he realized that he didn't have to be "big enough" to follow his call. God was big enough, and he could trust in that.

As I think about it, God's grace is sufficient to fill in the gap between who we are and what we are called to do. The gentleman this evening said that this realization was freeing. If you don't have to be big enough on your own, if grace is sufficient, if God is sufficient, then you can do things you wouldn't try on your own.

God's grace is sufficient for us to step out in faith, unequal to the task, but confident in God.

Image: Myrtle Beach with a stormy and yet oddly lighted sky.