Lessons from Adversity (Part Six)

He leads me …

We have been working our way through what Charles Stanley has to say about the benefits of adversity based on Paul’s experiences throughout the New Testament. This time we look at another way that we are better off.

12 LESSONS FROM ADVERSITY - Growing Closer to God Through Trials and Troubles[1]

 Through tribulation and difficulty, Paul learned:

6.     God’s ways are not our ways. Suffering is often the stimulus to greater closeness with God. We draw near to Him for relief from pain and suffering and, in the process, discover more about how He works. (See 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.)

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

 9 but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me.

 10 So I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God’s strength]. (AMP)

This is a continuation of Paul’s thorn in the flesh that we looked at last time. We see in the verses above that when Paul saw that his weaknesses allowed the Lord’s power to show itself more effectively, he gave himself over completely to God. This meant that any negative experiences that he had for the sake of Jesus, he saw as being a good thing, because he was able to encounter God’s strength in his life instead.

 Some eight years after writing this Paul wrote to the Philippians while in prison. We see that the way he has written indicates that he has been through a lot, but he knows that God is faithful -

Philippians 4:12-13

 12 I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. 13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (NLT)

So, what is this personal weakness that Paul lives with? It is any experience or event that requires on going conscious dependence on the strength that God supplies.[2]

God’s answer to Paul was, “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9), which is another way of saying, “I will be with you, Paul. Instead of a healing, I will personally be there in a special and proper way.”

What is the result? As we saw last time – everything that happens to us is working for our good, if we love God and are fitting into his plans (TLB). Although we are incredibly blessed in the process, it becomes less and less about us, and more and more about the Lord.

 A.B. Simpson[3] put it like this:

 “Once it was the blessing,

Now it is the Lord;

Once it was the feeling,

Now it is His Word.

Once His gift I wanted,

Now the Giver alone;

Once I sought for healing,

Now Himself alone.”

 God is with us right now, regardless of the circumstances. He loves and cares for us. Jesus said, “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NLT).[4]

 Let’s make the most of it.

[1] https://www.intouch.org/Read/Blog/12-lessons-from-adveristy

[2] https://www.samstorms.org/all-articles/post/my-grace--all-sufficient--shall-be-thy-supply--2-cor--12:8-10-

[3] Albert Benjamin Simpson (December 15, 1843 – October 29, 1919), also known as A. B. Simpson, was a Canadian preacher, theologian, author, and founder of the Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA), an evangelical and Keswickian denomination with an emphasis on global evangelism

[4] https://www.oneplace.com/ministries/a-new-beginning/read/articles/my-grace-is-sufficient-for-you-14809.html