Have You Ever Asked God to Sustain You, Rather Than to Deliver You?

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 12:9 (NKJV)

Key points:

Paul is in peak ministry mode.

He’s been jailed, stoned and left for dead.

His visions and principles for spiritual growth are changing nations.

He has much to be proud of.

That’s why this passage is one of the most potent moments of humility ever inked to a parchment.

Just prior to today’s passage, Paul references a thorn in his side.

This thorn is no small barb.

To pray a prayer for God’s sustaining power – instead of deliverance – is hard.

Paul employs the Greek word for the large spike travellers use to secure their tents against the gale force desert winds.

He has good reason to ask for this spike to be taken from him.

And yet there is no deliverance.

So what variety of loving God does not answer the prayers of this super-servant?

What does this say about Paul’s value to God?

How would our relationship with our Father change if we prayed for the strength to endure more than we pray for deliverance?

What more could Paul have done to get relief?

God is responding.

He’s sustaining Paul through his life-altering affliction.

In Paul’s daily survival against the odds, he’s bearing witness to God’s goodness.

Whatever Paul’s affliction was, his travels, writings and pastoral care could never be attributed to Paul’s talent, ingenuity or persistence alone.

He is fully reliant on the full measure of God’s goodness and power.

Listen to this episode of Real Hope in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts.

To pray a prayer for God’s sustaining power – instead of deliverance – is hard.

It’s not human.

That’s what makes Paul’s life so powerful a testimony to God’s goodness.

How would our relationship with our Father change if we prayed for the strength to endure more than we pray for deliverance?

How would our world be different?

Listen to this episode of Real Hope | The Podcast in the player above or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Devotion written by Dwayne Jeffries (originally published as ‘My Grace is Sufficient for You’ on 20 September 2022).

Feature image: CanvaPro