Sufficiency
I have several friends who struggle with chronic fatigue and autoimmune conditions. Their energy levels are very unpredictable from day to day. To help me try to understand what it is like, one friend describes it as only having a certain number of “spoons’ worth of energy’ to get through each day. Some days she might have three spoons, but other days she may wake up with no spoons. Getting basic things like laundry and meal planning done when operating in a “spoon deficit” is a real challenge.
Physical weakness is not the only thing that can be an obstacle to accomplishing our work. Emotional distress such as grief, whether it is due to a recent loss or over things that happened in our past, can sap our energy levels and ability to cope. The trials we often encounter in life can be a combination of physical and emotional pain. Pride, which deceives us into thinking we can handle whatever comes our way, is a subtle but powerful energy zapper. The American culture glorifies self-sufficiency and a “pull yourself up by the bootstraps” mentality. Inevitably though, when we burn the candle at both ends, our strength begins to wane. The world’s solution is to drink more caffeine, eat more protein, or take more supplements. These provide a temporary boost to help us keep going, but they do not sustain us.
The apostle Paul says in 2 Corinthians 12:9a, “And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Paul was not a stranger to trials. This verse comes directly after his request to the Lord to have a “thorn” removed. Whatever it was, it was clearly a painful and debilitating ailment, condition, or set of circumstances that Paul felt was impeding his ability to work, and scripture says he implored the Lord three times for its removal. His request is both relatable and understandable. No one enjoys being painfully hampered in their ability to get their work done. The Lord could have chosen to remove the “thorn,” thus easing the burden. Instead, He chose to strengthen Paul’s ability to bear it and to remind Paul that His grace is sufficient, and His power is perfected in weakness.
In David Guzik’s commentary he says, “God deliberately engineered debilitating circumstances into Paul’s life so he would be in constant, total dependence on God’s grace and God’s strength.” https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/2-corinthians/2-corinthians-12.cfm?a=1090009
When we are brought low and emptied of our pride and resources, it forces us to recognize and acknowledge our insufficiency so that He can step in with an exceeding, abundant supply of sustaining grace. Redpath said of this verse, “God works through the man who has been wiped clean and turned inside out, his life emptied before the Lord until he is hopelessly weak, that no flesh might glory in His presence.” https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/guzik_david/study-guide/2-corinthians/2-corinthians-12.cfm?a=1090009
The feeding of the five thousand in all four gospel accounts is a beautiful example of His sufficient grace. The disciples assessed the situation and immediately determined that it would be impossible to feed the large crowd with only five loaves and two fish. Their resources were limited and woefully insufficient for the task at hand. When they expressed this to the Lord, He simply instructed them to give what they did have, as weak and insufficient as it was, to Him. He gave thanks, blessed it, broke it and had the disciples distribute it. When everyone was fed to the full, the leftovers totaled twelve basketfuls. They ended up with much more than they started with.
Alexander MacLaren summarized it beautifully in the following statement:
“Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient that every one may take a little,’ says Sense. Omnipotence says, ‘Bring the few small loaves and fishes unto Me’; and Faith dispensed them amongst the crowd; and Experience ‘gathered up of the fragments that remained’ more than there had been when the multiplication began. So the grace utilized increases; the gift grows as it is employed. ‘Unto him that hath shall be given.’ And the ‘sufficiency’ is not a bare adequacy, just covering the extent of the need, with no overlapping margin, but is large beyond expectation, desire, or necessity; so leading onwards to high hopes and a wider opening of the open mouths of our need that the blessing may pour in.” https://www.blueletterbible.org/comm/maclaren_alexander/expositions-of-holy-scripture/2corinthians/strength-in-weakness.cfm?a=1090009
If you are weary and find yourself completely emptied of energy and resources, remember that Jesus Himself endured thorns. Remember His prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. He knew what was coming and asked three times if there was any other way, to let the cup pass from Him. In order for eternal salvation to be possible, the cup did not and could not pass. God’s sustaining grace strengthened Him, enabling Him to endure the cross and rise three days later, triumphant over death.
He understands human weakness. He walked among us and experienced human frailty in all its forms.
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power.” (Isaiah 40:28-29)
“Whoever speaks, let him speak, as it were, the utterances of God; whoever serves, let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (1 Peter 4:11)
His power is perfected in weakness.
His grace is sufficient.
To God be the glory.
