God’s Grace Is Sufficient (Part 1)

Dec 29, 2025

A thorny problem

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But he said to me, “My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NET)

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Paul had a “thorn in his flesh.”

We don’t know exactly what it was, but given how many times he had been beaten and left for dead, I suspect he had some physical ailments making ministry & life hard.

He asked God to take away this thorn and God’s reply is verse 9.

That’s not the answer I would be looking to hear.

Think about it:

Paul had literally walked through city streets, seeing God work physical miracles through him. He’d also seen God do mighty miracles in his own life.

Yet God decided rather than take away the “thorn” He would give Paul the grace to endure it.

It makes me wonder:

Are there things I’m asking of God that rather than giving me the answer I want to hear, He’s telling me to accept His grace to endure it?

The answer might be “no.”

Then again, the answer might be “yes.”

Making this a worthwhile exercise. There’s no point in wasting time chasing after something God doesn’t want me to have when I’ve got so many other things I could be doing.

I don’t know where this lands for you today, but I hope you’ll be brave enough to spend time with God and find out if you’ve got a “thorn” God wants you to just keep around.

If so, remember that God’s grace is enough for you too.

— Ricky Ketchum

Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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