Have you known Christians who are clearly sick but won’t admit they are sick because they don’t want to claim it?
Or you tell someone you have cancer, and they say, “Don’t own it; by faith, say you are healed.”
Let’s be honest. If you are evidently sick, don’t deny it thinking your faith is weak if you admit you are sick or a diabetic, etc. Sickness and affliction happen to everyone. Our bodies are weak, and we will get sick or get cancer, and saying so does not mean you have weak faith; it is a matter of fact. God’s grace will give you power and strength to endure.
Note: I don’t use AI to generate any of my posts; I wait for the Holy Spirit to speak to me. I spent the day in prayer, seeking God about what He wanted me to write about today, and He led me to write about the power of grace. Grace is hard to understand, so I asked Grok what God’s grace meant, and I gave it several Biblical examples.
For example, Acts 4:33 states, “And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.” Grok said that great grace meant “God’s abundant favor, kindness, and enabling presence rested not only on the apostles but on the entire community.” This tells me that when we share our testimony of what God has done, His grace (undeserved favor, love, and kindness) will be on us and those we witness to. When you share the gospel or encourage someone who is downcast, you are showing God’s grace.
The Apostle Paul’s Weakness
The Apostle Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, suffered greatly, yet he remained content. Why? Would you be content when suffering for Christ? In 2Corinthians 12:1-8, the Apostle Paul describes a heavenly vision he had and wanted to boast about it. He was given a “thorn in the flesh”—a painful, ongoing affliction he calls “a messenger of Satan sent to harass him,” which kept him from becoming conceited. Three times he pleaded with the Lord to take it away. Instead of removing the thorn, the Lord gave him this answer in 2Corinthians 12:9, “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.” Do you want the power of Christ to rest on you? Admit your weakness and need for God’s power and strength in your life.
Paul also responds in verse 10, saying, “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.” Could you be content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities? Paul wrote to Timothy that God rescued him from all persecutions and suffering (2Tim. 3:11).
How is power made perfect in weakness?
Grok returned the following explanation to the phrase “For my power is made perfect in weakness”: “Weakness is not a barrier to God’s power; it is the stage on which that power is showcased. When we stop relying on our own ability, Christ’s strength becomes visible and effective through us. This verse reveals a profound paradox at the heart of the Christian life: God often leaves the thorn in place so that His grace and power—not our competence or self-sufficiency—receive the glory. Paul’s experience shows that weakness can become the very place where dependence on Christ deepens, and His strength is most evident.”
Application
- Our bodies and minds are weak. When we think we can do life on our own and be self-sufficient, God will let us alone.
- The moment we call out to God in humility and say, I need your help, then His power is activated in our lives.
- If we stay plugged in and dependent on God to help us, then His power will be our source of life and strength.
Where Does Our Help Come From?
This question reminds me of Psalm 121. The first three verses go like this: “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? 2) My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. 3) He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.” The same powerful, almighty God who made the heaven and earth wants to help you and hold you secure. This same God has opened His throne room up to you through Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 4:14-16 encourages us, “Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15) For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16) Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Application
- Jesus Christ has given us access to God the Father, who gives us undeserved love. Jesus paid the debt for our sin to redeem us and removed the separation between God and us. I explained this miracle in my last post.
- We are told to hold fast to our confession, which is our testimony of what Jesus Christ did for us (saved us, justified us, sanctified us, redeemed us, forgiven us, and gave us His righteousness).
- You may be tempted to sin, which could be to worry, doubt, fear, complain, and so on. Know that Jesus was tempted in the same way and understands your weakness. He wants to help you because he won the victory.
- We can confidently go before the throne of grace to “receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” This Scripture has got to be the best in all the Bible.
- God’s mercy is undeserved forgiveness and compassion.
- God’s grace gives us power in our weakness that helps us to endure. Hardships and afflictions show up at the least expected times, but know that you can always go to the throne of grace to receive help.
Conclusion
The next time you are afflicted, pray and ask God to heal you, then receive God’s power and strength through His grace to endure the affliction. The affliction could be a sickness, a concerning diagnosis, job loss, family issues, etc. The Apostle Paul could have been mad at God for not taking the harassing spirit from him. Would you be mad at God? Many people are. Paul chose to be content and rejoiced in his weakness, so he could experience God’s grace. Instead of focusing on the affliction and sinning by complaining, doubting, giving in to fleshly pleasures, etc., turn to God in prayer and come to the throne of grace to receive mercy and grace to help you endure and overcome.
“Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father’s Son, in truth and love (2John 1:3).”
RELATED POSTS
Why You Need God’s Power and Might
Using the Power of the Holy Spirit
How to Stand Firm and Not Fear
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