2 Corinthians 12:7-10 (KJV) 2Co 12:7 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. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 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. 10 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.
Grace can take on several appearances
It can look like a shield to keep away the fiery darts…
It can look like a hand lifting us above the storm
It can look like an IV infusion giving us strength
But grace is often the inner strength we need…
I. You often ask for what you want most (2 Cor 12:7-8)
NOTE: This isn’t sin
What do we most often want? We often want the situation to change so that we don’t need more strength. We want the trial to go away
II. God gives you what you need most (2 Cor 12:9-10)
Sometimes God is giving us the extra strength, but we are so consumed with the trial going away that we never notice
We want relief so we desire (pray) for the trial to go away
We can be receiving grace and still be exhausted, still feeling pain, still struggling financially
We are looking for outer relief instead of inner strength and change
