Hi, friend! I’m so glad to have you reading this My Grace Is Sufficient for You: Trusting God in the Waiting, a 10 minute Bible study, for women today. Wherever you are, whatever is going on in your life, let’s take a few minutes to lay it all aside and focus on our relationship with God and understanding of His Word.
This is volume 2 in the My Grace Is Sufficient For You mini Bible study series. If you’d like to check out volume 1 first, you can read it here. In this series, we will explore what this phrase (my grace is sufficient) from 2 Corinthians means, the context when Paul was writing it, and look at examples of Biblical women who lived out this concept.
Digging into God’s Word is something we should be doing daily. I pray these little 10 minute focus studies help you build a habit of daily Bible study. I know it’s hard to be consistent all the time with life being so busy, but I believe it’s worth trying! Ready? Grab your Bible and let’s dig in!
My Grace Is Sufficient For You: A Bible Study for Women (Part 2)
First things first, let’s read God’s word. Open your Bible to 2 Corinthians 12:7-10.
“Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to ]torment me – to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Now, let’s get an idea of the context around this verse. Understanding the entirety of the message the Bible writer is trying to get across is SO important when reading scripture. Imagine getting a very long letter from a mentor and then picking out one sentence and saying the entire letter was about that. People sadly do this all the time, but I digress….
The Context of the Corinthian letters
So, the context. In the entire letter of 1 Corinthians, Paul speaks of unity. You see, the church there was made up of very different groups of people who were now trying to navigate life together as Christians. They lived in a very pagan atmosphere with loose morality in a pleasure seeking society.
Paul urged them to be different, taught them how to uphold God’s standards, and most importantly, to get along.
In the letter of 2 Corinthians, Paul writes about hardship in response to opposition to his teachings in Corinth. So basically, he felt the need to explain his “thorn” and the strength in Christ that can be found when enduring hardship.
“There was given me a thorn in the flesh,” he writes in verse 7. We don’t get an explanation of what this thorn was, but we do know it was a real source of pain in Paul’s life. He shares that he prayed to God to have it removed, but the answer was no.
Paul didn’t choose the trial. He didn’t want it. But he speaks of learning to be content regardless. His perspective is what we can learn from today, my friend. We too are called to trust God in the waiting times of life like Paul did.
What Does My Grace Is Sufficient Mean?
When Paul prayed to God to have his problem taken away, God’s answer was this: “my grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” What God said to Paul is also what God says to us at times.
We have God’s grace, freely given as a gift, and all we have to do is take it. To live a Christian life, we must follow Jesus to have the hope of eternity in heaven which is promised to those who love Him.
What we aren’t guaranteed is a life on earth free of hardship. I think sometimes this is so hard for us to grasp, myself included. When bad things happen or really tough situations pop up, our instinct is to ask “Why God? Why is this happening to me? And how can I get out of it?”
And I do think that is a very normal human response. Even Paul asked God to take his issue away. But the thing that tests our faith and trust in God is how we react after that. If God’s will is to take away the trial OR if His will is to not, we must trust His providential judgment. We have to acknowledge that He does know best.
Being Content with Weakness
Paul writes that “I am well content with weaknesses…for when I am weak, then I am strong.” He gives us the example to follow. Even when things don’t go our way, we must remember that in Christ our souls are made strong. Our trust and faith is strengthened by every trial we go through, even the ones that don’t go away, and our heavenly home is still there offered in grace.
As we go on, let us try to think and shape our thoughts when we hear “My grace is sufficient.” Imagine trusting God through the waiting periods of life.
Sarah’s Story: Trusting God in the Waiting
Now that we’ve gotten a better understanding of the context behind Paul’s writing of “my grace is sufficient” and what it means to us, let’s look at another example in scripture. This of a Biblical woman who endured a lot of waiting on God to answer her prayers.
Before we read Sarah’s story, let’s remember the “math” equation that is our Godly recipe for overcoming trial referenced in volume 1. HARD TIMES + GOOD PERSPECTIVE = CHRIST WINS.
A Perspective Shift
Our perspective shift is our most important and valuable tool to get us through hard situations. I know it’s challenging, believe me. I can be just pretty whiny! But as we look at Sarah’s story, at least the glimpse we get from scripture, remember that we can see her outcome, how God worked it out for good, and her trust in the waiting.
We don’t always get that in our own lives because we’re living them. So let her life be an encouragement to you today, sister!
Let’s read Genesis 18:10-12.
“He said, “I will surely return to you at this time next year; and behold, Sarah your wife will have a son.” And Sarah was listening at the tent door, which was behind him. Now Abraham and Sarah were old, advanced in age; Sarah was past childbearing. Sarah laughed to herself, saying, “After I have become old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
We all probably know this story, but I hope we can all look at it with a new perspective in our study today. Sarah was an old lady. She and Abraham had been promised descendants from God, but none had come. Scripture tells us she was past childbearing age. It seems like she had given up hope that she would have a child that she desired so much.
Sarah’s Situation
Remember that in those days, if a woman didn’t give birth to a child, her self worth was drastically minimized. The sole goal of a married woman was to have children, raise them, and serve her husband. I imagine she’d gone through all the stages of grief at this point. Sorrow, waiting, despair, and then finally, contentment with her lot. She was not given the gift of motherhood during what we would consider the normal time for it, so when the angel gives the message that it’s for her to conceive, she laughs.
How could she possibly have a child at her age? It just didn’t make sense to her. But it made perfect sense to God because He had a plan. Sarah had to learn how to trust Him through it. And that’s what she did.
When God’s Timing Doesn’t Match Ours: Trusting Him In the Waiting
We get the benefit of seeing that Sarah’s trial was taken away in scripture, just not in her timing. She got to have a child, Isaac, who was able to carry on God’s promise made to Abraham. And their family line eventually brought the Savior into the world. What a blessing!
Sarah got to have her child, but she didn’t get to live long enough to see the full promise. I’m referring to those “descendants more numerous than the stars” found in Genesis 15. Yet, she was left with the same choice we are: can we trust God anyway?
Like Sarah’s experience, we may not always get the answers we want in the time frame we want them in. Learning to be content and to be able to say with true conviction “when I am weak, then I am strong,” is the goal. Our perspective is what shapes our trust in God. We will not be perfect at this and that’s ok. But we need to keep trying, sister!
And remember that God needs us to try. One of my favorite verses in the Bible is Proverbs 3:5-6 which says:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.”
Let be women who trust God and are content in weakness, knowing that “the testing of your faith produces endurance.” We can choose to trust God, have faith, and know that “My grace is sufficient.” Trusting God through the waiting is what increases our faith. So pray, trust, and lean on the Lord during those hard times, my friend. God’s got this.
Questions for Reflection: My Grace Is Sufficient
Before moving on with your day, let’s spend a few quiet moments reflecting on today’s study. Let’s find out what God may be teaching you through your current season.
What trial, challenge, or waiting season are you currently walking through?
Why do you think God sometimes chooses not to immediately remove some trials?
Which part of Sarah’s story do you relate to most right now: waiting, disappointment, doubt, or learning to trust? Why is that?
Is there an area of your life where you have been leaning on your own understanding instead of trusting God?
Looking back on your life, can you identify a time when God was working behind the scenes even though you couldn’t see it at the time?
What would it look like for you to remember God’s words “my grace is sufficient” and trust God through the waiting?
What difference would you trusting God more make for you? With the people around you?
What does “My grace is sufficient for you” mean to you personally after reading today’s study?
How To Build a Habit of Daily Bible Study
I hope this mini Bible study helped you today, my friend. I know it helped me to write it! These moments spent in the study of God’s word can have a tremendous effect on our ability to trust God. When we are in His word daily, we can find the strength we need to get through. We don’t have to do it alone.
If you enjoyed this study and would like a little more encouragement to help build up the habit of daily Bible study, I have something for ya. I put together a 7 day scripture writing challenge (complete with scripture printables) sent via email that you can get.
Each day for a week, I’ll send you a focus scripture and a little mini Bible study to go along with it. All you do is read and write! At the end of the week, you’ll have gone a long way towards building that daily Bible study habit.
Frequently Asked Questions
When God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you,” He was reminding him that the promise of salvation, His grace, is enough. This verse teaches us that God doesn’t always remove our struggles, but He does provide the strength we need. That what’s “my grace is sufficient ” and trusting God through the waiting is all about.
Remember that God sees the full picture while we only see a small part of it. Like Sarah, we may not understand God’s timing, but we can know that He is still working behind the scenes. To strengthen your trust, spend time in God’s Word, pray often, and focus on God’s promises. Focusing on our temporary circumstances is not helpful. And remember, faith and trust are choices.
Sarah’s story teaches us that God keeps His promises even when it seems impossible. After years of waiting and disappointment, Sarah struggled to believe she would ever have a child. Yet God remained faithful. Sarah eventually gave birth to Isaac, showing that God’s timing is often different from ours. Her story reminds us that even when our faith is imperfect, God is still at work.
The short answer is, we don’t get that information. Scripture does show that waiting can strengthen our faith and teach us to depend on God. In the Bible, we see many faithful people as they experience long periods of waiting before seeing God’s promises fulfilled. We won’t always understand God’s reasons in every situation, but we can know that He is working things out for good.
Easier said than done, here’s the answer: you build a habit of daily Bible study by finding a consistent time where you’ll read on think on God’s word. Even just ten minutes a day can make a meaningful difference over time. It’s helpful to follow a simple plan, do scripture writing challenge, or use a Bible study guide to help build the habit.
That’s it for today, friend! I pray this study on “My grace is sufficient” trusting God through the waiting was helpful and encouraging to you. Feel free to leave me a comment. I’d love to hear if this was helpful or if you have your own personal experience to share. For more faith content and mini Bible studies, visit the growing resource here on my Faith blog page!
