Sufficient

And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may rest upon me.2 Co 12:9 Complete Apostles' Bible


Grace

Grace—the unmerited favor of God.  Christ tells us here it is sufficient.  It does seem, however, that such grace seems to be delivered in suffering and weakness.  Certainly this is how it came to us on the Cross.  Should we expect anything else in person?

Sufficient

The greedy always want more;  the saintly are satisfied with the sufficient.  Paul raised the dead, healed the sick, struck down the sorcerers and so on; God's grace to him was great indeed.  But it was just sufficient;  for he also was beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked and ultimately martyred for the faith.  Our Lord makes it clear there is a reason for this.

Suppose you had the unlimited gift of healing.  Just by touching someone you could heal them of any disease they had.  What would that do for your ego?  Could you withstand the temptations of pride that came with the publicity?  So it is with Paul;  so God provides tribulation as part of his sufficient grace.

Power made perfect

Remember that "perfect" means "perfect for a purpose."  It is not God's intention to turn out a race of flying supermen.  His intention is the reconciliation of the world;  that is his will.  We will be empowered as need be for that purpose.

In weakness

Think about it:  if none of us were tired, if none of us were sore and weary, if all things went entirely well—would we really know the grace of God?  Would we see it as unmerited favor, or would we soon decide that we must be indeed worthy people to get such a favor?  For this reason God gives us weakness, so that the strength he gives us will not be our downfall.  By this weakness, by this tribulation, he builds in us the character of saints.  It is not an oversight;  he planned it that way.

The Lighthouse

We are sent to be light to the world;  lighthouses, that's us.  But will the lighthouse withstand the waves and rain of the storm?  Only the storm can determine that.  But oh how sweet the sunshine that comes afterwards.