When God Says No

WHEN GOD SAYS NO

By Carolyn Dale Newell

 

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. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Cor. 12:9-10 (NKJV)

 

Sometimes the answer to our prayers is “no” or “wait”. In the proceeding verses, Paul had pleaded with God three times to remove a thorn in his flesh. Rather than removing it, God gavePaul the grace and the strength to live with it.

 

Grace is a generous gift or favor bestowed on someone who does not deserve it. When God told Paul that He would not remove the thorn, He also told Paul that He would give him everything that he needed to live with it. His grace includes His strength, His power, His peace and even His joy.

 

Sufficient means that it is enough. God’s grace will never run out. It will always be enough to get us through our storms. Just as you can never deplete the ocean of water, or you could never gather up all the sand that surrounds it; you will never run out of God’s grace.

 

Do you have a thorn in your flesh that God has not removed yet? His grace is continually sufficient for you too. God’s glory is displayed through your weakness when people see His strength through your infirmities,, needs, distresses…We do not have joy in these circumstances, but our joy will come as we see God’s grace at work in our trials. Like Paul, we will gladly boast in them because they can bring glory and honor to God. God’s grace is truly amazing!

 

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for grace! We need grace every day, and You abundantly supply it. Without grace, where would we be? Today, I ask You Lord to pour out Your grace upon each reader. In Jesus’ name, amen.

 

DIG DEEPER

Read 2 Cor. 12:7-10.

 

HIKING THE TRAIL

You may find yourself in a storm today. I want you to know that God loves you. Trust Him because His grace will take you further than you can imagine. Meditate on the grace He has supplied you with during previous storms.

 

Copyright 2013 Carolyn Dale Newell.

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