Christians sometimes think that they are enough. But the reality of the situation is that they are not. We are not. The fact of the matter is that we need God in everything we do.
When we wake up in the morning, have our breakfast, and do the task for the day, we need God for the air we breathe, for the food we eat, and for the wisdom to do our daily tasks.
To rely on ourselves is never sufficient but to rely on God is sufficient enough and more than enough. This is what the verse 2 Corinthians 12:9 talks about, as it is written,
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
In other words, other things we try to rely on can’t fill the holes that God’s grace can because God is the only one who can make our lives sufficient. After all, He is the creator of all things.
What Does 'My Grace Is Sufficient for You' Mean in Scripture
In terms of our sinful nature, biblical grace means God’s blessing or favor. Despite our rebellious nature and disobedience to God, God chooses to grant us salvation.
It’s Him holding off on His righteous wrath in exchange for a road to heaven if we follow Him, as it is written in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Grace comes to our rescue when we are unable to save ourselves, as it is written in Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Paul’s verse makes it plain that only God’s grace can save us in our frailty. God lavishes His grace on us, equipping us for every good work. God’s grace equips us with the skills we need to preach the gospel and share our faith in Christ, as it is written in 2 Corinthians 9:8,
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
God is the source of our sufficiency. In 2 Corinthians 3:5, it is written, “Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.”
These verses demonstrate the importance of relying on God and also that God’s blessings abound especially when we cling to God’s nature.
What Does 'My Grace Is Sufficient for You' NOT Mean?
Sufficiency in God means not being self-reliant. One of the examples about self-reliance is written in the Bible particularly to the Corinthian people.
Paul preached to the Corinthians to make a point about boasting. He says not to boast in what they can do, rather, thank God for the generosity of what they have been given.
In the same way, in modern times, a lot of people are self-reliant. For example, someone who has the gift of ministry, prayer, or the ability to deeply comprehend biblical teachings, can, in some capacity, become boastful and believe it is of their own power and ability rather than God’s.
This kind of attitude makes them conceited, and this attitude is one of the attitudes specifically apprehended by Paul.
Everything, even knowledge, comes from God and we have to be thankful to Him. It is specifically written in James 1:17 that all things come from God,
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
What Does the Bible Say about God's Grace?
2 Corinthians 9:8: "And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work."
2 Timothy 1:9: "He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time."
Isaiah 40:31: "but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Romans 3:20-24: "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
John 1:14: "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."
For more Bible verses on grace, check out this article here.
God’s Grace Is Sufficient Amidst Difficulties
We can occasionally misinterpret this verse to mean that God’s grace will draw us out of our difficulties and into greener pastures, but we risk spreading incorrect teaching if we do so.
God will not always remove the thorn in our side, but his grace will be sufficient for us regardless of the thorn. If you, like Paul, feel that you need to rely on God more or if you’re suffering from a thorn in your side, say this prayer.
Remind yourself of Paul if you find yourself relying on yourself. Despite the fact that many Christians rave about his accomplishments and how he molded Christianity’s faith and history, he always points it back to God.
One of the most well-known Christians of all time boasted in his infirmity, knowing that he couldn’t take a step without God’s assistance. Try to identify places in your own life where you might be dependent on something other than God.
Even when God bestows a spiritual gift upon us, we may mistakenly adore it rather than Him. Find those areas and beg God to help you get rid of your idols so you can rely solely on His grace.
God’s grace is sufficient to fully bless us and sufficient to make us stronger amidst difficulties and that is why we should not be self-reliant.
If we do feel that we are turning to ourselves alone, let us try to read 2 Corinthians 12:9 once again to be reminded that God’s grace alone is sufficient for us. There is nothing or no one else that can do what God can do.
For further reading:
What Is the Difference Between Grace and Mercy?
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/Anastasiia Stiahailo
Glory Dy has been a content creator for more than 10 years. She lives in a quiet suburb with her family and four cats.
