“We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead… Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me… He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” 2 Cor. 1:8-9; 12:8-9
Heavenly Father, these verses are a most precious gift to us. They give us an honest picture of Paul’s humanity, vulnerability, and his abandonment to you as “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3). Hallelujah, you are “the God who raises the dead”—not the coach who barks commands, the referee reminding us of the rules, or the distant, disengaged “little-‘d’-deity” who simply doesn’t care.
We rarely face deadly perils, like Paul faced; but between Jesus’ resurrection and return, we too experience crises, traumas, and situations that are too much for us. Like Paul, we easily acknowledge they are “far beyond our ability to endure.” And like Paul, we too “plead with you”—three times (and more), to take our “this” away. Father, sometimes “sufficient grace” doesn’t feel very sufficient.
What is our “this” that requires reliance on you as the God of resurrection and our grace-gift of praying friends? (2 Cor 1:10-11) Our lists include health challenges, relationship distress, the fear of more loss, the stress of more life than we can finance—emotionally and dollar-wise. Father, because of your gift of Jesus to us and for us, we abandon ourselves to you right now. Meet us, and use us in the lives of our hurting friends. So Very Amen, we pray in Jesus’ trustworthy name.