God’s providence permeates our lives. He is intricately involved in our lives.

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

Those who heard about Nick Vujicic, who is well known as the “limbless evangelist” know for sure how amazing and wonderful his life story is. Nick is an Australian Christian evangelist and a motivational speaker around the globe. He was born with a sporadic disorder characterized by no arms and legs. He is only one of the seven known persons who live with this disorder in the whole world. He constantly says that he is truly blessed and much happy. It is reported that when he was small, he prayed many times for arms and legs. He cherished the inner desire for at least one arm or leg. Although he prayed, God did not answer his prayers. God used him to reach people in places like schools, hospitals, churches, prisons orphanages, and other places. He testified in his book, “Life without limits” that “God took my unusual body and invested me with the ability to uplift and encourage spirits.”

Joni Eareckson Tada is a Christian who was born as the youngest of four daughters to her parents. She lived a very active life- swimming, riding horses, hiking, and playing tennis. However, she developed quadriplegia and was paralyzed from the shoulders down at the age of 18. God used here mightly in the USA and around the world for His glory. She is a Christian author who testifies the name of Jesus Christ through various media. Her articles are published in Christianity today and in other magazines. She wrote, “sometimes God allows what he hates to accomplish what he loves.” She also said, “He has chosen not to heal me, but to hold me. The more intense the pain, the closer His embrace.” Only a person who suffered a lot and experienced the presence and love of God in the presence of adversities can say these words.

The background of today’s insight is this – Apostle Paul, who was transformed by the love of Lord Jesus Christ and was called by Him to spread the Gospel of Christ to the then known world was faced with a thorn in his flesh which hindered him constantly from continuing his ministry. We do not know for sure what was this thorn in his flesh. He described it as “a messenger of Satan.” He also said it tormented him. He knew the purpose of why it was given to him. He says, “to keep him from exalting himself” because of the surpassing greatness of revelations God has given to him. In other words, God wanted to keep him humble because he was an apostle to whom the Lord gave wonderful and marvelous revelations than any other Christ’s apostles. It could have been a physical, emotional, or spiritual affliction or all three combined. Some say it was a severe eye issue because he talked about this elsewhere, speech disability or epilepsy. However, we do not know for sure.

He implored the Lord in prayer three times that it will leave him. However, Christ told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” In other words, Christ told him, Paul, I am not going to take this away from you. However, I am with you and will provide you with my grace. My grace is sufficient for you. Why? The power of my grace is going to be perfected in you when you face that weakness. Paul wanted release from the thorn of the flesh which tormented him. However, the Lord said, I am going to leave it there. My child, but each time when you face that weakness, I will provide my grace sufficiently. My power is going to be injected into you so that you will be able to meet it and you will glorify me through it.

Beloved, is this not what Christ’s plan is in the lives of Nick Vujicic and Joni Eareckson Tada as well? I believe so. His grace was sufficient for them as it was to Paul and the supernatural and divine power of the Lord became perfect in their disabilities and weaknesses to achieve God’s purpose and glory.
Paul said, “therefore, I am well content with weaknesses for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” In God’s economy when you and I are weak, then we experience divine grace and strength because He infuses his grace and power in the midst of it. Therefore like Paul can we also say this-Most gladly; therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness. Why will I boast in my weakness? Paul says, “so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”

Beloved, what we discussed today is not natural and human. It is purely divine, I would say. However, this is God’s way. As people we do not want or like weaknesses, do we? It does not mean Paul, Nick, and Joni Eareckson Tada liked what happened to them either. However, the truth is this – We have a God in heaven whose providence permeates our lives. He is intricately involved in our day-to-day lives and He is the skilled expert in turning our weaknesses and disabilities to correctly display His tremendous and supernatural grace. Nick and Joni Eareckson along with many others are the modern-day living examples of this truth in our lifetime. Bible affirms He will give the strength through his mighty and matchless grace, and in the end that is more than enough. Paul said elsewhere “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13.

Got a moment for today’s prayer? “Father in heaven, I agree your grace is sufficient for me, and your power is perfected in weakness. Lord, I pray to fill me with your divine grace and power. I know the source of my power is the risen Jesus Christ. I accept Christ as my savior and Lord. I believe He died and rose again for my sins. In Christ’s name, I pray. Amen.”