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 of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9. ESV
Have you ever felt hopeless, as if nothing would change in your life? Have you felt that you'll find no healing, and that redemption, restoration, and revival are beyond your reach? We all go through seasons of hopelessness when we struggle to lift our arms in praise, when joy and hope seem absent, and when brokenness fills every corner of our homes. Your weary hands grow tired from knocking at heaven's gate, questioning whether His promises are trustworthy because you see no evidence of His works. All along, the future seems bleak because your past has always been like that. You wanted to escape the chaotic world and run away from it.
I'm writing this to remind young women and men that you are never alone. We may have different stories, different paths, and various burdens to carry, but look at you—you’re still keeping the faith, right? How beautiful it is to see someone with so much to bear still holding onto His Word and believing that His promises are true and Christ is sufficient in everyday.
I am currently reading the Book of Acts. This book is quite heartwarming and serves as an encouragement for me. It describes the remarkable deeds of the apostles and other key believers. The Book of Acts covers a 30-year period, from the birth of the church on the day of Pentecost to Paul's imprisonment in Rome. Acts illustrates salvation history: God's purpose to save the world, which was gradually revealed in the Old Testament and fulfilled in Jesus, continues through the mission of the church. (The Lion Handbook to the Bible)
Miracles, wonders, and signs accompanied the sharing of the gospels, but persecutions were ever-present as well. The fellowship among the believers was remarkable; they held everything in common. Despite arrests, stoning, and martyrdom, they continued spreading the message: Gentiles heard the good news, James was killed, and Peter was imprisoned, Paul and Silas worshipped in prison, and Paul undertook his missionary voyages. The presence of the Holy Spirit in the church is unmistakably evident throughout Acts.
There’s a lot to take in, and each chapter deserves time to be understood. One lesson stands out: the urgency of the gospel, even under persecution. The apostles’ love for Christ was stronger than any threat they faced. Their faith urges us to consider—despite our modern struggles, are we still holding fast to the gospel?
The persecutions we may face today are not as severe as those in the past. However, the obstacles that hinder our love for the gospel include the burdens we carry, the sins we attempt to conceal, our selfish desires that overshadow His divine ambitions, the dreams and hopes we invest in this world, the people around us whom we strive to please, and the traditions and beliefs we cling to within the church instead of truly embracing the Word as it is.
These obstacles prevent us from pursuing a deeper relationship with God because, in reality, He isn't our priority. We often focus on our careers and feel pressured by timelines—such as the expectations to get married by a certain age, have children, and acquire investments and possessions. We may think, "I am a good Christian already. I attend church and engage in my ministry. That should be enough; the church should be grateful that I am fulfilling my responsibilities. I faithfully give my tithes and contribute through the work of my hands." Unfortunately, many of us have become entitled Christians. Many of us forget to share and amplify the Word because we hardly believe it, and it cannot be seen in our lives.
We all are guilty; we still live in our weak bodies, in our flesh, and in this broken world but we are not hopeless, we are not stuck in sin because God remains faithful, and Christ is sufficient in our weaknesses. The Spirit of God is everywhere, strengthening, encouraging, and enabling us to grow. We should acknowledge that we struggle as Christians and recognize our need for repentance. It’s important to love God's Word as it is and to maintain a Biblical perspective on life, avoiding conformity to the patterns of the world. We should cultivate holy affection for God and strive to live for the purpose for which we were created.
We don't necessarily need to embark on a mission like Paul; sometimes, we simply need to look within ourselves, examine our faith, and evaluate the way we live. Is our life aligned with the Truth, or are we living according to our own desires? Is Christ sufficient despite the sufferings we encounter? Are our actions bringing us closer to Christ and helping us love the church as He does? We should devote ourselves to the apostles’ teaching, to fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer. This means praying, showing love, confessing sins to one another, and running with endurance until we finish the race.
Knowing that Christ is sufficient in our everyday lives, we can lay aside every burden and the sins that easily entangle us. This allows us to testify, through the power of the Holy Spirit, about what God has been doing in our lives.
Let's run the race!
