Strength for What You Are Carrying - Your Nightly Prayer - March 1st

Rev. Kyle Norman

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Your Nightly Prayer

Strength for What You Are Carrying
Your Nightly Prayer
by Kyle Norman

TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE

“My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” - 2 Corinthians 12:9

SOMETHING TO PONDER

It’s heart-wrenching when you think about it; Paul suffers from a thorn in the flesh and is in constant pain and anguish. We don’t know what that thorn was, but we know it was so severe that he pleaded with God to remove it. Three times he cried out to God, hoping for miraculous intervention. But none came.

This would be heartbreaking… if this was the end of it. Rather than simply refusing to heal Paul, Jesus issued a blessed word: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” The truth of scripture is this: Jesus never leaves us facing our thorns alone.

Grace is a word we often use in church, but sometimes without fully thinking about what it means. The definition of grace is quite simple: the active and purposeful presence of Jesus in our lives. This abiding presence is sufficient for all we face. Don’t move past the intimacy described in this verse. From the depths of his being, Paul cried to Jesus to remove this thorn, and Jesus responded, ‘My grace is sufficient for you.” Jesus spoke directly about Paul’s situation; he addressed his thorn. And while the grace of Jesus’ presence didn’t remove it, his loving presence surrounded Paul’s as he experienced it.

Make no mistake, the word of grace isn’t pie-in-the-sky escapism. This truth proclaims that through weakness we witness the sustaining power of Jesus. Our weaknesses give us the capacity to recognize the nearness of our Lord. This is why, a few verses later, Paul said he would boast about his weaknesses. We never move outside our dependence upon God’s grace and his power that can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine.

All of us have places where we struggle or fall. All of us have a thorn in the flesh we would love Jesus to take away. What if you choose to see your specific place of weakness as an opportunity to witness the power of Jesus? What if you dared to believe that in the place of your struggle, Jesus is present?

When we recognize our weakness as an opportunity to rest in Jesus, open-handed and open-hearted, we uncover an ever-flowing stream of divine power for our lives. We find that we can handle whatever thorn or difficulty befalls us. And this gives us hope, peace, and strength.

YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER

Gracious Jesus,
I am thankful for your grace, which flows into my life. Your grace is the gift of your love, a love that testifies to your closeness. Because of your grace, I know you are with me as I make my way through this life, and all it throws my way.
Lord, you know there are times when the difficulties of life make it hard for me to see your work. I can so easily focus too much on the problems that I forget to see your presence; I see my struggles instead of your saving help. I pray that you would reveal yourself to me in those times. Remove the scales from my eyes and give me the capacity to see your sustaining help. Turn my weakness into a place of worship – a place where I glorify you for your power that helps me stand.
I pray all these in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord.
Amen.

THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON

1. Paul’s thorn in the flesh is intentionally vague, which means that the word of grace is applicable to any situation. Which situation in your life do you need to apply this promise to?

2. Paul is given a choice: will he focus on his problem or his provider, his suffering or his savior? What do you focus on when you feel overwhelmed by your weaknesses?

3. Has there ever been a time when you have seen God work through someone’s weakness? How did that increase your thankfulness and praise to God?

Reflect on tonight’s prayer and share how God met you there. Join the Your Nightly Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.

The Reverend Dr. Kyle Norman is the Rector of St. Paul’s Cathedral, located in Kamloops BC, Canada. He holds a doctorate in Spiritual formation and is a sought-after writer, speaker, and retreat leader. His writing can be found at Christianity.com, crosswalk.com, ibelieve.com, Renovare Canada, and many others. He also maintains his own blog revkylenorman.ca. He has 20 years of pastoral experience, and his ministry focuses on helping people overcome times of spiritual discouragement.