Message for May 16,2021 from Pastor Shirley

2 Corinthians 12: 7-9 Paul said-Three times I pleaded with the Lord to relieve me of this.  But he answered me, “My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.” 

    Are you experiencing a hard place in your life?  I describe hard places as those difficult times of life.  We all will go through these times.  Not a matter of if but when.

    As I look back over my life I see the hard places I have gone through. There were times when I spent all my energy trying to figure out ways to get out of that place. And of course the enemy always said it is your fault. If you had done this or if you had not done that you would not be in this situation. I know that God does not always come in and deliver his immediately. The hard places are not meant to destroy but to mature us. It is a place of patience, faith, trust and learning.

    Maybe you are one that is in a hard place and there is not going to be no instant breakthrough. Quit trying to use all your energy in trying to figure it all out. Maybe you like Paul have pleaded with the Lord to take it away. Could God be saying to you as he did to Paul, “My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.”  Weakness is the state or condition of lacking strength.  No, we don’t have the strength to breakthrough.  It is not through our strength that we overcome these hard places anyway.  If you are that one this Scripture is for you.

    So do not fear, I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with a righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:1:10