“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:8-9
Should Paul’s mindset had been only for having this thing removed according to his own expectation, he would not have recognized God’s answer. God’s answer was not found in what Paul wanted to see happen, but in God’s provision, which was far greater. By God extending His grace to Paul, which was sufficient for this problem, Paul found God’s grace to be sufficient for all His problems. Had God just removed the problem instead of supplying grace greater than the problem, Paul would not have gained the grace that was sufficient for every problem.
Though God didn’t do what Paul originally desired, what God did do proved to be far greater. God’s answers do not short change us. They do not limit us. They do not deprive us. Rather, they open up to us that which otherwise would never be available.
God answered Paul by means of His grace, which Paul had no grounds upon which to bargain for such benefits. Our problems are due to the imperfections of our sinful world and sinful self. If God answered us according to that which we deserved, it would be the awful recompense for our sinful imperfection, instead of the provision for deliverance from the effects of our imperfect state.
Rather than God just get us out of the jams we get ourselves into due to walking according to our own ways, God’s answer is to provide for us to walk on the higher road of doing His will, where our steps will be established: “He that walketh uprightly walketh surely”, Proverbs 10:9; “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” Psalm 37:23.
The Psalmist testified that the answers he needed were found in giving the reigns of his life completely into the hands of the Lord: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth by soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:1-3 Rather than God’s answers being able to deliver us from the messes of our will and way, God’s answers are experienced in having Him watch over us and work all things together for our good as we observe and follow His will and way.
SHARING
