An Unwanted Calling

 

”My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”(II Corinthians 12:7

She had written to me because she was suffering with constant pain and really didn’t know if life was worth living this way anymore. As I prayed about what to say in my reply, God reminded me of the truth of his unique calling in my life….a call to suffering. Over the course of my life I had heard his call to ministry of various kinds in my life. But now it was different.

Much like Paul who prayed and asked God to remove the thorn in his flesh 3 times(2 Corinthians 12:7,8), I had asked God to take away the pain. Others had joined in that prayer, but his answer was always ‘not now my child, my grace is sufficient for you’. Friends and family alike struggled with that answer.

But as I sat in front of the computer that day I realized anew that God’s calling on my life right now was unwanted, yes, but still very real.  I could say like Paul, ‘Most gladly, therefore I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”(vs 10). His promises that his grace would be sufficient and that I could be content with that are a daily reality.

The pain has not left. But neither has my Heavenly Father. Christ in me means that I can choose joy and be at peace knowing that ‘when I am weak, then I am strong’(Verse 10b) His call on my life during this season is to shine his glory through a cracked and broken vessel and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he has not forgotten me and very definitely still has things for me to do, a role to play, prayers to pray.

How about you? Is God’s call for this season of your life unwanted? Are you having trouble seeing his purpose and plan for your days? Remember that God hasn’t changed and still very much at work, indwelling you with the power of Christ each and every day!

Heavenly Father, thank you that I can know that Your power indwells me and Your grace is always sufficient for me. May I remember that when the circumstances of life threatens to overwhelm me. Amen.

Action Step:

Have you been resisting God’s call on this season of your life? Have you been grumbling and complaining, demanding that God change it? Take a moment to thank him that his grace is always sufficient even now and that he will be at work in and through you as you are faithful to that call.