July 22 Update “My Grace is Sufficient”

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

⁹ 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. ¹⁰ For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. ^[1]

This past week has been a bit easier however, the radiation and the chemo are doing their job.  This weekend has been hard to swallow and there is constant pain in my throat and I am unable to talk again.  The radiation doctor said if I need it I could take a few days off and it appears to me that I might take him up on that.  I must get all of my radiation treatments done within a nine week time period. I only have 10 more radiation treatments.   I will have my next chemo on July 30^th.

My blood counts dropped again so I had shots during the weekend to boost my white blood count.

Pray for wisdom as to whether I should take a few days off this week.  Pray for the pain to subside in my throat.

This week I begin to think about the number of times I have encouraged people with the verses above. I have also used this in many sermons encouraging people to live in the power of God’s grace.  It is easy to say or preach when you are not the one going through a tough circumstance.  God has given me a whole new empathy for those who are suffering and are in deep pain. I hope I never use this verse in a flippant way or without trying to understand the pain that an individual might be going through.   In the midst of a battle, God’s grace is enough.

I have been blessed with many cards and letters from you. People put a lot of thought in the card they pick.  I started reading them with that understanding and that card is more than just words, but that is a way for your encouragement to surround my mind, soul and body.  It is another way to say, “God’s grace is sufficient for me”.

In the end that is all any of us can say. God’s grace is sufficient no matter the circumstance.   We exist for His glory and we live for His glory.

^[1]The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (2 Co 12:9–10). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.