Who said this to Paul? Jesus did. If you have a red letter edition of the Bible you will notice that these words are in red letters. Which means that Jesus spoke them. What a message for Paul to hear from Jesus. But this wasn't just a message for Paul, it's a message for us as well. The message is this: no matter what we're going through, the grace of Jesus is sufficient to see us through. The word grace is one of the most expansive words in God's vocabulary. It encompasses all the gifts and benefits and blessings that God gives us—past, present, and future. When we talk about being saved by grace, we’re talking about God’s free gift of eternal life that was gained for us when Christ died on the cross and finished the work of redemption. There’s nothing we can do to earn our salvation or to qualify ourselves for heaven. It’s all by grace—a gift of God. But that word grace also includes all the other blessings and benefits and gifts that come from God. His peace, His power, His promises and His provision are all components of God's grace.

Jesus spoke these words to Paul after Paul pleaded to God in prayer for a "thorn in the flesh" to be removed from him. Jesus did not remove the thorn but gave Paul something better, something greater...His grace! More of God's grace on my life is better and greater than me being comfortable.

If you’ve ever read the classic, Pilgrim’s Progress, you know it was written by a simple thinker and Baptist preacher who was imprisoned for his faith and for his preaching. This was in 17th century England, and Bunyan had a wife and family to support, which included a little blind daughter to whom he was deeply devoted. Yet here he was, year after year, in prison for his faith. In his autobiographical book, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, Bunyan tells of a time when he was so cast down that he could hardly function. He was suffering from acute depression, but right in the middle of his struggles and darkness, this phrase came to his mind with tremendous force. For several weeks, that phrase stayed in Bunyan’s mind and kept him from the brink of depression and despair; but then he felt himself slipping away with the undertow of his fears and darkness. That’s when, one day as he was in a meeting of God’s people this verse came to him again, but this time more fully, for the it wasn’t just the four words My grace is sufficient. It also came into his mind with those last two words as well: My grace is sufficient for thee.

You see, God's grace isn't just sufficient for the Apostle Paul or Paul Bunyan, it's sufficient for me and for you. Do you believe this? Do you claim this?

Now, there is another part of this sentence. By way of further explanation, the Lord tells us: My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. In other words, our weakness becomes an arena in which God’s power can be more effectively displayed.

What others see as a limiting handicap is actually a heavenly advantage.

Whatever you are going through today, I hope you can hear Jesus say to you in big, red letters, My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness!

Pastor Tim