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

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

— 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

10 Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison to test you, and you will suffer tribulation for ten days. Be faithful even unto death

25 than to hold fast to what you have until I come

— Revelation 2:10, 25

10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.

11 I am coming soon. Hold fast to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

— Revelation 3:10-11

Thoughts on Today’s Reading

Grace, salvation and joy from Jesus Christ to you.

Suffering and pain should not defeat God’s children because Jesus promised that His grace is sufficient for us, and His power is made perfect in weakness. We should come to a realization that we can boast all the more gladly about our weaknesses so Christ’s power may rest on us. Where the sufferings, pains, and weaknesses increase, God’s grace increases there even more. For Christ’s sake, we delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardship, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when we are weak, then we are strong in Christ. In trouble, we, God’s people, intimately know His power, which is so much more wonderful than our own.

While we wait for Him to vanquish evil and Satan and end our suffering, we can experience spiritual victory. God gives rest and peace that this world and its trouble cannot take away. He guides us through difficulty one at a time. He develops in us perseverance and godly character. We believers can do more than endure suffering ; we can excel and exalt God! In Revelation, Jesus repeatedly promises eternal rewards to victorious believers. Let’s answer Christ’s calling to be faithful, to endure patiently, to hold on to what we have till He comes. At the same time, God Himself holds us firm so that no one can snatch us out of His hand. He has given us eternal life that we will not perish but enter His kingdom in glory.