This life is replete with crosses. Life’s crosses are unavoidable. You cannot run away
from your cross. You may run away from your present cross, but a similar or different
cross awaits you in your new wonderland. Bear your cross; for the Lord says: my grace is
sufficient for you. (II Cor. 12:9).
Thus, in the midst of life’s trials and tribulations, the Lord assures us that his grace
is sufficient for us. Paul was at a low point in his life. He pleaded with the Lord to
remove the “thorn in the flesh” that afflicted him. God, in his reply to Paul, said that he
was not going to eliminate the problem but that he would provide Paul with the
necessary strength and grace to persevere to the end. God’s grace would be enough to see
Paul through his trials. By stating that his grace is sufficient for us, God assures us that
his love and support will help us to navigate through any difficulties we encounter and
any crosses we carry. God does not always remove our problems; instead, he equips us
with the grace to endure and overcome them.
Also, when God said that his grace is sufficient for us, he is inviting us to
acknowledge our limitations and to find strength not in ourselves, but in the
inexhaustible wellspring of his divine mercy and empowerment. Furthermore, when God
said that his grace is sufficient for us, he is also inviting us to surrender our pride to him,
to acknowledge our need for his divine intervention in our life, and to depend on him to
give us the strength that we need.
The assurance that “My grace is sufficient for you” is not a dismissal of our struggles, but rather an
affirmation of God’s presence amidst them. It is a promise that, regardless of the magnitude of our challenges,
we are never alone. It is an invitation to trust in the sovereignty of a God who can turn our weaknesses into
vessels of his strength.
Throughout history, countless individuals have borne witness to the transformative power of God’s grace
in their lives. For those grappling with physical ailments, emotional scars, or spiritual battles, these words
offer a beacon of hope amidst the darkness. They remind us that our struggles are not in vain, but rather
opportunities for God's grace to shine forth in our lives. Moreover, embracing the truth that “My grace is
sufficient for you” liberates us from the burden of self-reliance, the burden of “I can do it all by myself.”
Jesus said that if people must come after him, they must deny themselves, take up their cross daily, and
follow him. (Mt. 16:24). To deny oneself means making sacrifices, it means denying oneself this or that in order
to carry one’s cross faithfully after Jesus. Our burdens, obligations, conditions, and circumstances of life are
our crosses. Some of the people we have to interact with on a daily or frequent basis, especially difficult,
narcissistic, disagreeable, or burdensome people, are also our cross; they are sometimes thorns in our flesh.
When the Lord gives us a cross to carry after him, he also gives us the grace to carry it to the end. Thus, we
receive divine assistance from him as we journey with him carrying our crosses. Jesus assures us that “In the
world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (Jn. 16:33).
Let us pray. Lord Jesus, you carried your cross to the end to teach us not only by example, but also to let us
know that we have your grace also to carry ours to the end. I take solace and find strength in your promise:
“My grace is sufficient for you.” Help me to trust in your unfailing love and to rely on your boundless grace.
May your sufficiency be my strength, guiding me through each trial to triumph. Amen.