Finding Joy in Difficulties?
Are you confused and not sure what to do or where to turn?
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
I have always been a bit uneasy with James 1:2 where Jesus followers are encouraged to “consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds”. When I find things in God’s word that are hard to understand I “camp” on them for a time and ask God to reveal His wisdom.
Recently I taught four sessions at a weekend women’s retreat. One of the sessions included the wise counsel of 2 Corinthians 12: 9 & 10 where Paul tells us the words the Lord spoke to him when he asked about something that was deeply challenging him in his life. The Lord’s reply was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
Paul goes on to say that because of God’s promise to be his strength right in the midst of his weakness, he can “delight in difficulties”!
“Delight in difficulties”! It’s a hard concept to teach especially when there are women listening who have faced difficulties far beyond any I have even come close to. Yet I know God is not being trite in this. I knew there was a “power tool” for life in this teaching. I quickly put the “count it all joy” verse and “delight in difficulties” side by side and saw an old truth in a new way.
God is not telling us that He is testing us to see if we will pass the test of faith. Rather He is telling us that the difficulty becomes the opportunity for God’s power to be displayed and for our perseverance to grow. The promise is that as we grow in trusting Him we will “lack nothing”. (James 1:4)
Perhaps it’s a bit like having built a boat, and when the water rises we get the opportunity to test out just how it works and find delight in the buoyancy and security of it.
The difficulty becomes the opportunity for God’s power, and my perseverance in trusting Him, to come together so that I will have all that I need to walk where I need to walk.
It’s pretty amazing stuff.
As I “camped” on these thoughts for a few days the Lord highlighted two other great truths from His word that dovetail with this whole idea of looking at all of life, challenges included, as an opportunity for God to be on display and for our own faith to deepen and mature.
2 Peter 1:3
“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.”
2 Corinthians 9:8
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
Lord God,
The challenge is often great to see difficulties as opportunities for Your power. Our own perseverance in trusting You can so easily slip when a new challenge is staring us in the face. Yet that is exactly what You have asked, that we allow our weak points to become the very entry point of Your strength and power. Today, may our faith flourish and our thankfulness overflow as we face the day. May we rejoice in Your blessings, find Your strength entering in at our point of weakness and may we receive all that we need to “abound in every good work”. Thank you that You do not call us to “simply survive” or “get by” as so many express today. But You call us to flourish, to find joy and receive Your power in our lives as we persevere in trusting You. You are amazing, Lord. With gratitude we pray this in the strong name of Jesus, Amen.
Question: Where do you need to see God’s power to enter in to your situation today? How have you seen God work in the past?
11 Responses to “Finding Joy in Difficulties?”
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Well, I am a reader at our church, and last Sunday that was the scripture I read { 2 Cor}. Thanks for confirmation as I am going through difficult financial times God bless His grace is sufficient for me. Amen
Well, I am a reader at our church, and last Sunday that was the scripture I read { 2 Cor}. Thanks for confirmation as I am going through difficult financial times God bless His grace is sufficient for me
Praise the Lord this morning.
A comment on this when u faced with difficulties some people curse God yet He test our faith and stand in Him.
If you are not stong you can quit salvation and you may think you are far away from God.
Me i read His word like never before to get more bullets of fighting.
God bless you
Its amazing how we manage to smile through difficulties and this is because we have a great gift and strength in us- and that is God. He says He will never leave us or forsake us.May He help us to remember this so that we keep strong all the time.
This devotional registered with me as recently I’ve been going through some personal struggles and have felt so alone that it’s brought tears to my eyes. In recent years I’ve kept 2nd Corinthians Chapter 12 Verse 9 in my mind quite a bit as challenge after challenge comes my way. It is a verse you can remember when times get tough as it will remind you that God is bringing you a particular challenge for a reason, even if you don’t know it or understand it at the time.
Blessings to all.
Sharon, Consider you and your brother on my prayer list this week and the coming as he continues to heal. May you both feel God’s comfort and peace during what would otherwise be a time of anxiety.
These words resonate as I am faced with a having my only sibling undergoing a serious surgery on Friday. I love this devotionals because they are a way to spend your time remembering the power of God in every situation we face..if we know that “My grace is sufficient for thee”. I take joy in ministering
my brother who is a minister himself and helping him remember that “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”
Thanks for this awesome reminder this morning Gail, that God does give us the strength to find joy in difficulties! Love it! We do have a choice……
I have seen great break through in my life so much positive attitude and behaviour in me. I was a difficult woman for whatever reason but there is nothing out at the end. I told myself and God that my name is Positive and middle Name Faith and my Surname is Wisdom as from today onwards there is no what next how and why no more in me. my name is Victor for God.
Gail once again thank you so much for a Great Devotional…Linda R
Entering His strength gave me the confidence the face the challenge of cancer more than 10 years ago. In my middle years of life, I’ve thankfully been taught to lean on Him, hold on for the ride and look for the lesson He has planned. Gail, I love your words! Thank u for sharing!