The Strategy of God’s Grace

 

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)
“Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”

In 2 Corinthians 12:9, the Apostle Paul shared a personal experience about struggling with a “thorn in the flesh”, a hardship sent by the devil to hinder his work for Christ. Paul sought the Lord three times, and this verse tells us God’s response: “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”  As many of us might imagine, the response Paul received may not have been the one he expected. He probably wanted God to remove the struggle or the source of it, but as we learn in life, Heavenly Father doesn’t always do this. His grace is our strategy for overcoming adversity and obstacles, and it is a spiritual powerhouse that never fails. 

Significant relationships in our modern times can be complicated and emotionally exhausting. They can cause the kind of perpetual discomfort and struggle that Paul talks about. Sometimes the dysfunction in the individuals that we attach ourselves to overwhelms us. It weaves a web, and our desire to be loved leads us into it. When things first started, perhaps we thought we could handle it or maybe the darkness did not come to light until it was too late. Whatever the case, our hearts can lead us astray and our emotions don’t always inform us of danger. 

When we face these challenges in our relationships, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, like we’re tangled in a web we can’t get out of. But through Christ, we’ve been given the authority and power to handle any adversity, even when it feels like we're at our weakest. Ephesians 6:10 (NLT) reminds us: “A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.” Our strength to handle adversity doesn’t come from our own abilities. God is the Source of all power and strength, so we can’t lean on our own fragile emotions or wisdom. Instead, we must depend on the infinite power that comes from our Heavenly Father through Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 40:29 (NLT) echoes this truth: “He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.”  As our Source of strength, especially when we feel weak or powerless, we should also remember that God is compassionate towards us, and He empowers those who are struggling. In all situations, this is where we need to apply our faith. Whether we're facing physical exhaustion, emotional battles, or spiritual challenges, God offers us the strength we need to endure and overcome.

Having received the strategy of overcoming through God’s grace, notice how Paul responds in 2 Corinthians 9. He’s glad to boast about his weaknesses so that the power of Christ can work through him. This, too, is an essential part of this strategy of grace. We must allow our dependence on ourselves to decrease, making room for God's strength to be made perfect in our weakness.

Key also is our genuine desire to get untangled and be free. It may seem hard to believe, but sometimes we allow ourselves to remain in situations that are far from ideal, and far from where we envisioned ourselves, because something in those circumstances feeds a part of us. Perhaps we’re insecure and clinging to a relationship, a job, or a familiar pattern, because we haven't yet cultivated the level of trust in God that we need. We might say we want our lives to be unencumbered by darkness, yet we continue to gravitate toward it.

Many of us fall into the trap of desiring freedom while still holding on to what we know, even when it’s holding us back. We must pray and ask Lord to help us break free of any mental and emotional stronghold. As His Word reminds us in Romans 12:2 (NLT), “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.” When our minds are renewed, and we are seeking God with all our hearts, we can embrace the true freedom that He has given us through Jesus Christ.

The desire to get untangled is a desire for God to step in and intervene, understanding that He wants us to be free from darkness entirely. It’s an invitation for His grace to enter into any mess and bring order, healing, and transformation. This is what He offers us through His beloved Son, and it is only through Jesus Christ that we find true release from the burdens that weigh us down. John 8:36 (NLT) tells us: “So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.”

When facing troubling circumstances, it can be very challenging to let go of the need to control. Our first instinct may not be to invite God’s power to take over, but this is necessary if we want His grace to be front and center. It doesn't just lift us out of our troubles; God’s grace empowers us to walk through them with the courage, peace, and confidence of Jesus Christ. We may not understand why certain things happen or why we face specific struggles, but we can rest in the assurance that God’s grace is sufficient. His power works best in our weakness, and when we trust this, we will overcome every adversity and obstacle by trusting Him with our whole hearts. ■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

“The Strategy of God’s Grace”, written by Kim for https://rescuefromdomesticviolence.blogspot.com© 2025. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.