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Thursday, September 18, 2008

 
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I wil boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

As frustration mounts while in the thick of adversity a cry often rings out from our souls. In our infancy in Christ that cry is often, "Why God is this happening." But, as we accept that all things happen in order to make us more like Christ and in order for us to be refined in our faith - the cry of frustration and why changes to be a how. While the question of how to deal with the adversity or how to learn and grow from a situation is a question of great promise we often ask this question in an accusatory manor instead of with a spirit that is willing and hopeful for God's guiding hand to be brought into light. We allow the enemy to plant seeds of self-doubt that cause us to cry out and beg that God just take it all away because we can't, no we are unwilling to let go of our frustration and watch as God changes us and molds us more into his son's image. We are unwilling to face impossible odds when we believe the deception that they are impossible, but nothing is impossible for the God that nothing can compare with.

Even the apostle Paul in this section mentions how he cried out to God three times that what he called 'a thorn in his side' be taken away. Sometimes we think the only relief or wisdom we can gain is when situations are taken from us. Sometimes God deems for us to be in a situation for a reason and when we get frustrated that we are there and focus on that we miss the great joy that comes from the wisdom of just what that reason is. The enemy will often take the fact that a situation isn't just disappearing to make us frustrated and turn us from willing and maturing christians ready to learn into whining, snivelling infants once more. The enemy wants our ignorance of God's glory to frustrate and blind us from it. The enemy wants to delay and ultimately stop our progress as we follow God. After throwing several hissy fits and realizing that God has deemed us to stay in a situation instead of asking God to just take it away, ask that you be made willing to be shown just what we are to learn or how we can shine his light. We often hold onto a spirit of frustration because we have been deceived into thinking that it is hopeless that we cannot do it and that it's best to pout.

Paul realized pouting would not take away the thorn in his side and was comforted as God reminded him that His almighty grace would be sufficient. It is true we can do nothing by ourselves and we admit that but so often we forget that when God places us in a situation, he will be the power necessary to get through the fire and come out as pure gold. We know God would not abandon us and we know that God has a purpose for allowing us to suffer so why do we cry out in frustration as if we are ignorant of these truths? Why do we allow our hissy-fits to stop us from walking forward? Why be deceived into thinking all is lost when this verse promises us his grace is sufficient?

When we are weakest, he is strongest. His strength is shown perfect when in our weakness we rely completely on him. Though the fire of life may lick at us for a season, when we allow God to carry us through that fire and allow our hearts to be touched by his grace continually; when we emerge, we will be more like him and our faith will have been strengthened and shaped into what God deems beautiful. When we allow our faith to carry us through and to remind us of the promises of His power and grace, we are passing the tests and we are growing to be more like Christ. Take your focus off of the frustration and allow God to redirect your attention and impart wisdom that he is bestowing and to show you the way that he is helping you grow. Allow Christ's power to rest on and in you.

Dear Lord,
Forgive us for being like spoiled children. When adversity comes we pray that we be mindful of you. Help us to look to the truth of you word and your character instead of believing the deceptions of the enemy. Condition our heart and our faith through trials. Help us to accept when we are facing adversity and instead of focusing on frustration help us to remember the joy that comes after we've been brought through. Help us to jump the hurdles. Remind us that your grace is the sufficient power we need to overcome this world as you have already overcome it. You are with us and we praise you for your faithfulness. Forgive us for our forgetfulness and remind us of you so that we may continue to pray to you and may continue to offer you the praise you deserve. In your holy name, Amen.

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