My grace is sufficient for you

7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:7-9 (NKJV Emphasis mine).

My grace is sufficient for you.

Our nation has been touched by an evil event, an atrocity, a tragedy the likes of which we’ve never seen before.  Last Friday in Christchurch in the South Island of New Zealand, 50 people lost their lives, murdered by a deranged gunman.

The Otago Daily Times said this, “New Zealand is at half-mast: half-ashamed of itself, half-mad with grief – there’s a lot of halves going on, a lot of unfinished, unresolved feelings of rage and blame and anguish”.

A terrible tragedy.  We send our love and pray for all those effected.  May we all find His grace, His peace, and offer extra kindness to those around us.

Then the outpouring of love, compassion and solidarity all across our nation and the world, has been amazing.  Christchurch has been through tragedy before in the form of natural disasters (the earthquakes).  Then it was broken buildings.  But this!  This was man-made.  This time its different.  Now its broken hearts.  Therefore the reactions are different.

(I am in no way minimising the pain of the earthquakes; I am making reference to the fact that the reaction to this event is different, because it was an act of a terrorist).

When I see the reactions of ordinary people, and the sacrificial work of the emergency workers and Police, I am proud to be a Kiwi!

There are undoubtedly many questions raised in our minds.  The answers to which are not so quick in forthcoming.  That can be frustrating.  However, when we go to God in prayer, worship, and reverence, that in itself is a good thing.

God is still God.  He is still Lord.  He is still on the throne.  He is still King of kings.  He is still worthy of all our worship, reverence, devotion and focus.  The events on earth do not change who He is.  They do not change all that He has done for us, and all that He is to us.

These events plus some of my own stuff, have caused me to reflect upon the Apostle Paul’s words, My grace is sufficient for you. 

Pastor Rick Warren says life is like two railway tracks.  We’re running on both at the same time.  One is good, and the other not so good.  Good things, and not so good things can be happening in our lives at the same time.

I say amen to that!

My not-so-good thing at the moment, is that I have a shake in my left hand, arm and leg.  It’s my thorn in the flesh.  It gets worse with stress, when I’m nervous, tired or hungry.  (And we’ll not mention what a good coffee does!).

My neurologist is trying to figure out what it is.  He’s not convinced as yet.  He’s not calling it Parkinson’s, but is open to that diagnosis.  Whatever name he gives it, I know The Name that is above all, to which it will bow; the Name of Jesus!

However there are some good…, no, great things happening right now.  My new book Brief Word – A Collection was launched last week.  In spite of my shaking, the Book Launch went really well.  My Book Launch team were amazing!  God’s grace was sufficient.

Please Note:

• Copies of the book are now heading to London, South Africa and Germany.
• You can order your copy at goodwords.nz

Thank you for praying for this great project!

That’s the thing about God’s grace.  It is sufficient.  There are things we’d rather not have, issues we think God should just remove, block, heal, or take away.  But He doesn’t.  At least in our timetable.  Its in those times that God’s grace thrives.

Grace!  Someone once told me, God’s grace is God’s ability to do for us what we could not do, and God’s ability to make us what we could not become.  That’s it!

The events we face in our nation, the issues we face locally, the things we must do personally, are often beyond our ability.  Its true.  But, God’s ability in us enables us to do what we need to do.  God’s ability in us enables us to say what we need to say.  God’s ability in us enables us minister as the opportunity arises and requires.  God’s ability – His grace, the power of Christ – brings peace where there’s turmoil, and a calm spirit when outwardly its otherwise.

When I’m in a situation where my shaking gets worse, I am embarrassed, frustrated, and annoyed.  But I am also discovering that God’s ability – His amazing grace – is with me.  The book Brief Word – A Collection was launched despite my thorn.

Friend, the same applies to you.  God’s grace, His ability, is with you and in you, so that, in spite of the thorn you carry, what you’re called to do will get done to His glory.

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8. (NKJV).

Notice these words:

• God is able.
• All grace.
• That you.
• All sufficiency.
• All things.
• Every good work.

Whatever tough decision we have to make, whatever situation we have to speak into, wherever we have to go, whatever we have to say, whatever is happening around us, in spite of any thorn, God’s grace, His ability is in us will supersede all.

Let’s not focus on the thorn, but rather highlight God’s grace.  Let’s magnify God and His ability to do with us what He wants, and make us who He wants us to become.

My grace is sufficient for you.

Some book launch photos