10 4 S E S S I O N 310 4 © 2014 LifeWay

When you’re sick, what helps you feel better?

Q U E S T I O N 1 #BSFLgrace

B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E 10 5© 2014 LifeWay

THE BIBLE MEETS LIFESometimes all we need is some chicken soup and a good, long nap. Soup and a nice warm bed may be enough to help you get over a head cold, but at other times, sickness is not so easily soothed.

My mom endured years of treatments for a rare blood disorder. The disorder ultimately destroyed her body and required amputation to prolong her life. At age 75, my father went from riding in 100-mile bike treks with people half his age to being unable to walk.

Both my parents died after long and painful journeys through sickness. Both were Christians who loved God. Both had seen God answer prayers with miracles in different seasons of their lives. Both had asked God for earthly healing in their own lives, yet both received “no” as God’s answer in the final years of their lives.

When we walk with people who face long-term health issues, all kinds of questions may arise: Where is God? Why does He heal some people and not others? If He can heal me, why doesn’t He?

Some of the most profound teaching and insight on this issue come from the pen of the apostle Paul. He was a man well acquainted with pain and suffering. Let’s look at an account from His life recorded in 2 Corinthians.

THE POINT

God’s grace is sufficient—even in times of sickness.

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B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E 107

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Key Words

Grace (12:9)—The Greek term can also mean “mercy,” “kindness,” “goodwill,” “gift,” or “beauty.” It is generally understood as God’s undeserved favor.

Sufficient (12:9)—The word primarily means “to ward off,” thus “to defend,” “to be strong,” or “to be enough.”

Perfected (12:9)—In this verse, the verb means “made complete” or “made fully present.”

2 Corinthians 4:16-18; 12:7b-10 (HCSB)

4:16 Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day.

17 For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.

18 So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

12:7b Therefore, so that I would not exalt myself, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to torment me so I would not exalt myself.

8 Concerning this, I pleaded with the Lord three times to take it away from me.

9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.

10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, catastrophes, persecutions, and in pressures, because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

© 2014 LifeWay

THE POINT

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

In Corinthians 4, Paul described his current situation with words like “pressured,” “perplexed,” “persecuted,” “struck down,” and “given over to death.” Even though Paul’s outward circumstances were extremely hard, he used very different words to describe his inward attitude: “not crushed,” “not in despair,” “not abandoned,” and “not destroyed” (vv. 8-9). What enabled Paul to have that kind of attitude? He maintained an eternal perspective. That perspective is revealed in verses 16-18: “Therefore we do not give up. Even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory. So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

This viewpoint is rare in our culture. A person’s hope, happiness, and even identity are typically tied to his or her physical health or circumstances. But because Paul had an eternal perspective, he was able to be strong and joyful when most people would feel weak and depressed.

Imagine a set of scales. On one side of the scale Paul gathered up all of his suffering and trials. On the other side is the eternal glory that would be his when he reached heaven with Jesus. The coming eternal glory is far heavier—greater—than the sufferings of this life. The same is true for us. When compared with the eternal glory that’s been promised to us, the sufferings of this life are momentary—brief and fleeting. Knowing the truths of verses 16-18 makes these burdens seem light and easier to bear.

Paul issued this instruction in verse 18: “Do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” Temporary problems, pains, and emergencies easily steal our attention. When they do, we can make a choice about where to place our focus.

How does focusing on the eternal help us endure the temporary?

Q U E S T I O N 2

God’s grace is sufficient—even in times of sickness.

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2 Corinthians 12:7b-9a

In 2 Corinthians 12, we see one very specific example from Paul’s life about his own journey with suffering. Paul lived with—and requested relief and deliverance from—a “thorn in the flesh.” Bible scholars have conjectured as to what exactly was Paul’s thorn in the flesh. No one can say with certainty what it was, but it was likely some kind of physical affliction.

Paul repeatedly petitioned God to remove his affliction. God’s answer, however, was “no.” And as far as we know, God gave no explanation for refusing Paul. Implicit in God’s “no” is the gentle challenge to “trust Me.”

And while God didn’t remove the thorn, He did make two promises to Paul.

1. God’s ever-present grace would be sufficient. God didn’t remove the thorn, but He did promise Paul He would provide everything the apostle would need to live with it.

2. God would demonstrate His power in Paul’s weakness. Sometimes the light of Christ’s power shines most brightly against the dark backdrop of our suffering.

How does God’s grace prove itself sufficient in the midst of sickness?

Q U E S T I O N 3

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THE POINT

Q U E S T I O N 4

When has a “thorn” helped you grow in your faith?

2 Corinthians 12:9b-10

Paul didn’t just endure his trials and survive his suffering. He found the supernatural strength to “boast” and “take pleasure” in his suffering and weakness. He recognized God was at work. When he was weak, he found that Christ’s power resided in him, making him strong.

I don’t fully understand why, but God has determined to do some of His most significant work through sickness, pain, and trial. It could be that what the world really needs to see—far more than a miracle or healing—are people who find joy, peace, and trust in God even in the midst of their suffering.

Roni Bowers, a South American missionary, wrote the following just a few weeks before being killed in a plane crash. “God often chooses to do something different with your life than you envisioned. But it’s OK. He’s still God, and He still loves you. As long as your confidence in God remains strong in the midst of all the questions and myriad of emotions you will be OK. He is the only one who remains constant, and life is good if you stay in His arms—God’s loving arms. You may not understand where He leads, but you will be safe and secure with Him anywhere, even in death.” 1

Does God still heal? Yes, but God doesn’t always choose to heal in the way we want Him to. God delivers us in one of three ways:

1. Sometimes God delivers us out of our pain and suffering through supernatural intervention. God sometimes demonstrates His great power through healing.

God’s grace is sufficient—even in times of sickness.

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2. Sometimes God delivers us through the pain and suffering. This is how God worked in Paul’s life. God doesn’t take away the sickness, but He gives us the grace to endure it. In the process, He shapes us deeply and manifests His glory as others see joy, steadfastness, and Jesus in us.

3. Sometimes God delivers us unto Himself. The psalmist wrote, “The death of His faithful ones is valuable in the LORD’s sight” (Psalm 116:15). We can get so fixated on this life that we forget the beautiful reality of heaven that awaits us.

Our Heavenly Father is good, wise, and in control. He can be trusted.

How has God worked in and through you in a time of weakness?

SUFFICIENT GRACE

List three of your personal weaknesses. These can be physical, spiritual, or emotional. Write down one step you can take to hand each weakness over to God.

Q U E S T I O N 5

B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E 111© 2014 LifeWay

THE POINT

How can we approach illness and suffering in a God-honoring way?

] Pray every day this week for someone you know who is suffering with sickness or disease. Don’t be afraid to boldly ask God to heal that person. Send them an encouraging email or note.

] Memorize 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 so you’ll be equipped with it’s truth when afflictions come your way.

] Be there. Have lunch with someone who is going through a time of suffering. Resist the urge to feel like you have to fix his or her problem. Just practice the ministry of presence.

Sometimes illness and disease don’t just go away. But thankfully, the presence and grace of God do not go away either. This week, be aware of opportunities to be an avenue of God’s grace for someone else.

Grow Where You're Planted

I’ll admit it. I hate cleaning gutters. Standing on ladders? Walking around on a roof? Scooping up handfuls of goop? No thanks! But there always comes a time when I know it’s time to pull out the ladder, walk around the roof, and shovel out the goop. It’s when I can see upstart plants growing out of the gutters.

To continue reading “Grow Where You’re Planted” from Threadsmedia.com, visit BibleStudiesforLife.com/articles.

LIVE IT OUT

God’s grace is sufficient—even in times of sickness.

112 S E S S I O N 3© 2014 LifeWay

My group's prayer requests

My thoughts

1. Kristen Stagg, If God Should Choose: The Authorized Story of Jim and Roni Bowers, [Chicago: Moody, 2002].

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