2 Corinthians 12:8-9
“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
A story is told of a very poor man who lived in ancient times. It was a time when powerful kings dominated all who lived in their kingdoms and who had the power of life and death. It was a time when many sons and many horses were a sign of wealth and prosperity.
This poor man had only one son and one horse. As he grew older, the son used the horse to plow the fields, to haul produce to market, and ride from place to place on various errands. People pitied the poor man and often made disparaging remarks about his poverty.
Things went from bad to worse when the son was returning from the village on the horse and was thrown to the ground, breaking his leg. The people clucked their tongues and wondered what evil thing this poor man had done to have such bad fortune befall him. He would just smile and reply, “The Lord knows what I need. I will trust Him to give me what He wants me to have.”
Not long after the son’s accident, the king sent messengers to each village and demanded that every able-bodied young man report for battle immediately. The only one in this age group who was not conscripted was the poor man’s son because of his broken leg.
In a short time the sad news was relayed to the village that the battle had gone very wrong and all of the men had died in the fray. Now the poor man who had once been pitied was considered to be the one who was blessed.
When we trust in God, it makes no difference what people think or say—Romans 8:28 is true in any and every circumstance: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
As a child of God we should place ourselves under His control daily. He may delay the answer to our prayer, or He may deny it as He did with Paul. Whatever the Lord determines for our lives—to delay or deny—we can know that His grace is sufficient.
May God richly bless you as you bless others by your words and actions!
– – – Pastor Cecil