THE GRACE that Strengthens is also the Grace that Satisfies!

 “MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU…”- {2 Corinthians 12:9}

 “SUFFICIENT.” The word, means, “Adequate, ENOUGH with the implication of  SATISFYING!”

Think on this. Paul’s pain was real, it was compared to a stake that would impale someone, so brutal was it, and yet the Lord says He is imparting grace to him that will be enough for him and indeed in the trial he will know the satisfaction of the INFLUENTIAL grace of our Lord Jesus. The grace that satisfies in pain would be known by him! Whatever you are going through, difficulty, great and deep hurt, know that this moment you were not only saved by grace- {Ephesians 2:89}, Stand before God in grace- {Romans 5:2} but the realm you live in is a realm of grace that is sufficient not only to sustain, strengthen you to continue to serve Him but also to…satisfy you! Sometimes God does not answer the way you ask, but He answers in such a way that you through His Influential grace experience Grace that is  Sufficient, is “enough” and satisfies!

Note- the little word, “IS.” It is present tense grace, for this moment and the next moment and the next as by faith you lean in on Him, deriving all from Him and appropriating The Grace of our Lord Jesus that strengthens and satisfies. It is an abundance of grace!  Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 9:8. – “And God is able to make all grace ABOUND  to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed;” Abundance of Grace for you  for every good deed! You are never without. Saved by the Grace of the Lord, strengthened, sanctified, and grace which is abundantly yours in service for the Lord! This influential Grace…SATISFIES even when suffering! “My Grace IS Sufficient…”

“A grief, a trial, an incapacity, a limitation, a weakness, which we use as a means of deepening our sense of dependence upon Him, is a blessing, and not a sorrow.”- MacLaren

 The Lord could have removed the “thorn” and what a “testimony” that would have been we may well imagine. But what about those over the centuries whom He has not removed their pain, sorrow? Would the evil one not whisper that there was something wrong with their faith? “But GOD…” shows us there is another way. Sometimes He chooses to remove the “thorn” other times He chooses to leave it and impart Himself, His grace, His power for the pain and in leaning on Him in conscious dependance of our need of Him, the brighter and more brilliant the testimony is of HIS GRACE, HIS POWER through a man or woman in pain! All our prayers should come under the authority of. “Your will be done!” Not in passivity but in confidence He will do what is best for His kingdom, my eternal good and others benefit.

Paul’s suffering’s would be used of the LORD to give light to others down the centuries that He knows about their pain and He is the provision in their pain and He promises “Sufficient grace!” His INFLUENTIAL grace that imparts Satisfaction to the one in pain. He strengthen and satisfies with Himself. His grace unleashes His power, in our own weakness. His moment by moment grace…Satisfies which pain cannot drown out! Driven to Him, deriving all from Him. The influence of His grace, kindness, favor upon us strengthens and satisfies. Grace has an influence by which God imparts to us what is needed in the moment to trust Him, be strengthened by Him, be changed, experience satisfaction from Him. Grace is not an entity  floating about somewhere. A word that has no relevance. But it is God actively influencing a life, permeating it with His kindness, favor, enabling. Thayer’s definition of Grace includes, “good will, loving-kindness, favor of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues.”

“SUFFICIENT…SATISFYING GRACE…” to sustain you, enable me to continue to do the work of the LORD but also, this grace is a grace that has benefits…satisfying the soul!

“Sufficient” – Think on the One who said this- The Resurrected Lord Jesus

“Sufficient”– whatever you are confronted with today His grace is sufficient for you

“Sufficient” – grace that Satisfies… even in pain! Amazing grace of our Lord Jesus!

SUBMISSION TO HIS ANSWER.

When you pray – Submit to His answer – He may deliver you from the difficulties or like Paul He may gave grace to endure with power through the trial, but His grace satisfies, because of the One who imparts it- the LORD Jesus who is familiar with suffering! The grace that strengthens is also the grace that satisfies. When the LORD said He would not remove the “thorn” but impart grace and power to him, Paul SUBMITTED to His answer and the result was glorying in his Lord even in his weakness. He wasn’t frustrated, or mad at God. In acceptances lies peace! He was not left alone but God imparted Himself, His Grace to continue on.

Paul testified to it… countless others can do likewise…in pain they can say, “I am satisfied!”- His Grace has satisfied me in my pain.  Submission to Him in prayer I find His grace satisfies me- I am satisfied by the grace of my Lord Jesus despite and in my pain!

THE GRACE that Strengthens is also the Grace that SATISFIES.