June 19: Grace in Weakness

You prayed for a defect to be removed, and it’s still there.

Paul had something he called a thorn in the flesh. We don’t know exactly what it was. He asked God three times to take it away. And God said no. Not in those words. He said: My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.

Then Paul said something surprising. Most gladly therefore I will rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest on me.

That’s not what anyone wants to hear. You want the defect gone. Now. Completely.

Sometimes God does remove things quickly. Many people in recovery describe the craving for alcohol lifting in a way they can’t explain. But other defects stay longer. Impatience. Fear. A tendency to isolate. You become willing, you pray, and you still struggle.

That doesn’t mean Step Six failed. It doesn’t mean you aren’t willing enough. Sometimes God leaves a weakness in place because it keeps you close to Him. A person who never struggles might forget how much they need grace.

The defect still matters. You still bring it to God every day. You still take practical steps. But you stop measuring your spiritual health by whether it’s gone yet.

Instead, you learn to find God’s power right inside the weakness. On days when fear is loud, His grace carries you through. On days when patience is thin, He gives just enough. It’s not the removal you wanted. It’s something else: His strength in your weakness.

Willingness in Step Six means being ready for God to remove defects in His way and His time. Sometimes that’s fast. Sometimes it’s slow. Either way, His grace is enough for today.

It may help to tell someone about the defect that hasn’t left. Your sponsor has likely carried one of their own for years. You’ll probably find you’re in good company.

One thing today

Pick one defect that hasn’t gone away. Write: Your grace is enough for me, even here. Pray it whenever that defect shows up today.

A prayer

Lord, I asked You to take this away, and it’s still here. I don’t understand, but I trust You. Let Your grace be enough. Let Your power rest on me right in this weakness. Amen.

On defects that remain: Step Six.

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