Raised to Stay: Persevering in Ministry When You Have a Million Reasons to Walk AwaySample

Sufficient Grace

Maybe for you, every political year leaves you more disenchanted with the local church. Or maybe it’s the inability to have hard and holy conversations from the pulpit on race, the LGBTQ community, divorce, pornography, and gender equality. Perhaps you never went back to church after the Covid-19 pandemic. You’re finding it hard to “stand firm in the faith” (1 Corinthians 16:13).

You’re not alone.

In 2 Corinthians 11, the apostle Paul describes what life following Jesus was like for him. Paul talks about being robbed, beaten, misunderstood, and betrayed by his own people. He then goes on to say he has been shipwrecked three times. At this point I have to ask the question. Paul, why do you keep getting back in the boat?

Why do any of us?

I have to believe Paul got back in because he knew the reward would be greater than the risk. If he quit, he’d never know what or who was waiting for him on the other side.

Paul talked about all the things that were exposing his weakness because it showed the strength of his God.

Paul confesses in 2 Corinthians 12:8, “Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it [a thorn in his flesh to keep him humble] away from me” (NIV).

What was God’s response?

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (verse 9 NIV).

It’s okay to admit we’ve been hurt, overlooked, rejected, and misled by people we placed our trust in. That doesn’t make us weak or incapable. Rather, with every question, every attempt to resign from this madness, every opportunity to quit, in our weakness we see the power of God. For when we are most weak, he is so strong (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Literally, the only thing that can stop us from doing what God has called us to do is if we quit and let our questions become louder than the cross and let our guilt grow louder than the grave.

“His grace is sufficient.” Let that promise rest over you.

How would you describe your relationship with Jesus? How would you describe your relationship with the church?