More recently, I've found myself interceding: "Lord embrace them with Your grace." Perhaps this would be a good time to correct some flawed theology about the grace embrace that won't let go. Listen in on the Apostle Paul's heart:
"Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so I would not exalt myself. Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Therefore, I will most gladly boast the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may reside in me. So because of Christ, I am pleased in weaknesses, in insults, in catastrophes, in persecutions, and in pressures. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12: 7 -10)
Hmmm ... ls it always God's will that you be healed? Is it always the Father's plan to relieve your pressure? Is your personal happiness the chief aim of God? Does the Lord have a wonderful "comfortable" plan for everybody's life? From a human perspective it would seem not. Should we cease praying for such interventions? Absolutely not! But would you agree that often the plan of heaven is no where near comfortable and wonderful?
Just ask the Apostle Paul those same questions. Paul would reply: "Heaven's answers are not always what we prayed and hoped for." Why not? Personal experience says the Lord is forming us into the image of His Son. Does that help you understand that His answers are based on His longrange plans, and not our immediate relief?
Thankfully, in the midst of our suffering, the Lord whispers, "My grace is sufficient for you" (verse 9). As with Paul, the Lord's grace supplies more than you or I need to endure whatever threatens to undo us.
Let's turn up the volume (or heat). The grace of God is more sufficient than your strength and the advice of any trained counselor or close friend (though God often uses both). The grace of God is sufficient to carry you through whatever your own unique "thorn" may be.
His grace embrace is the ticket. Why? God's power is perfected in our weakness. Amazing! Haven't you believed that power was perfected in success? That achievement is what makes you strong? Seriously? Don't those things usually make us more proud, self-sufficient and independent? It's the painful thorns that make us weak.
Good News? When we are weak, the Lord pours into us His strength. When His strength arrives we have an entirely new perspective on pain and suffering, hardship and pressure. When those stresses and strains drive us to our knees, God embraces us, takes us by the hand, and lifts us up. Indeed, His grace is sufficient for you too.