2 Cor 12:9; 2 Cor 12:10

2 Corinthians 12:9

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

[Said]-literally, `He hath said:' His answer satisfies Paul.

[Is sufficient.] The trial must endure, but the grace shall also endure and never fail thee (Alford) (Deut 33:25; 1 Kings 8:59, margin). The Lord puts the words into Paul's mouth, that he might say, `O Lord, thy grace is sufficient for me.'

[My strength], [dunamis (NT:1411)]-`power.' 'Aleph (') B Delta G f g, Vulgate, omit "my," power (namely, God's) being thus put absolutely in contrast to weakness.

[Is made perfect]-has its complete manifestation.

[In weakness]-infirmity. Do not ask for exemption from infirmity (strengthlessness), FOR my power is perfected in man's strengthlessness' [astheneia (NT:769)]: thy `strengthlessness' [the same Greek as

2 Corinthians 12:10

10 That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

NIV

"infirmities," strengthlessnesses: astheneiais (NT:769)] is the very element in which my `power' (coincident with "my grace") exhibits itself perfectly. So Paul, instead of desiring the infirmity to "depart," rather glories in infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest [episkenosee, `tabernacle upon,' cover all over as with a tabernacle; referring to the shekinah in the temple, the type of believers] (cf.

Isaiah 4:5-6

5. Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy.

6. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.

NIV

Greek, John 1:14) upon him.

John 1:14

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

NIV

This effect of Christ's assurance on him appears, 2 Cor 4:7,16; 1 Cor 2:3-4: cf. 1 Peter 4:14. Paul often repeats "weakness," `infirmity' (2 Cor 11; 12; and 13), as being Christ's word. The Lord more needs our weakness than our strength: our strength is often His rival; our weakness, His servant, drawing on His resources, and showing forth His glory.

God uses the weakness frailty of man to get His word out to the world. It is when we are at our best when we have things of this world that will humble us. When we are humble, then we can listen to what God want us to do.

Man's extremity is God's opportunity; man's security, Satan's opportunity. God's way is not to take His children out of, but to give them strength to bear up against trial

(John 17:15).

John 17:15

15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. NIV

It is the grace of God that protect’ us. How does it protect us. Does it remove the situations from before us?  No, but when one have power to overcome his or her enemies, then that is protection.

Many, many times it is not Satan who harms us, but it is we who hurt ourselves because of him.

1 Peter 5:8-11

8.Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

9.Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

10.And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11.To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.

NIV