Grace

But He said to me, My grace (My favour and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! 2 Corinthians 12:9 AMP

Every time I read this scripture, my heart fills with gratitude and I feel so loved. And relieved that it's okay - God's favour, loving-kindness and mercy, is enough for me.

Here are a few thoughts about this scripture .....

But He said to me

God wants to talk to us, all the the time. Sometimes we don't want to listen. Sometimes we have our minds so full of our own thoughts that we can't hear Him. Sometimes we hear Him and then say to ourselves, "No, that can't be God." Today, let's ask God to help us to make time to listen to Him, and ask Him to help us recognise when He is speaking.

My grace (My favour and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]

or as the New Living Translation says

My grace is all you need. 

or as The Message Bible says

My grace is enough; it's all you need.

In this world where 'complicated' is promoted as better, it seems we have lost sight of the brilliance in the 'simple' ...

My grace is all you need.

It has certainly been my experience over the past twenty years as a Christian, that God's grace is all I have needed. His favour, loving-kindness and mercy, often manifested through wonderful caring human beings, has been what has carried me through many challenging times. Though it has definitely been (and continues to be) a journey of understanding that this grace is a free gift to me, and through Jesus, I am worthy to receive it.

for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness.

or as the New Living Translation says

My power works best in weakness.

or as The Message Bible says

My strength comes into it own in your weakness.

In a world where generally it isn't advised to talk about your weaknesses, it's as if God is saying to us, "Show me your weaknesses, give them to Me, as then I can show you what I can do." He is telling us not to hide them from Him (He knows about them anyway), but to admit them and let Him work in them. The apostle Paul understood this so well.

Therefore I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

or as the New Living Translation says

That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

or as The Message Bible says

Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focussing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness.

What a beautiful picture.... It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness

So many times I have felt helpless in my life, unable to change a circumstance, tired and weary, weak, and it has only been Christ's strength that has enabled me to get through. His grace - favour, loving-kindness and mercy - is always enough.

Question for today, are you in need of Christ's strength today, to move in on your weakness? I encourage you to open your mind and heart and receive His grace that He has purposed for you today. It is enough.