Corrected by Grace, Centered in Christ
God brings balance when I feel off-center—by anchoring me in Christ, not by making me perform.
📚 Devotional Credit:
Excerpt from In Christ by E. Stanley Jones
📸 Photo Credit:
Unsplash
Paul speaks of a man in Christ—surely himself—who was caught up into the third heaven. And yet he shares this vision with deep reluctance, almost apologetically. Why? Because he knew that true spiritual maturity doesn’t boast in spiritual experiences or extraordinary moments. He sensed he was departing from the central emphasis of Christ, who never drew attention to Himself through spectacular visions or mysticism. Jesus walked in full clarity and communion with the Father, never straying into the performative or the sensational.
Paul felt driven to speak up—not by the Spirit, but by criticism. And that’s the trap. When we allow the reactions of others to determine our behavior, we lose our grounding. Our actions become reactive rather than responsive to the Spirit of God. Paul admitted he was veering off center, but even in that moment, God graciously realigned him. A thorn in the flesh was given—not as punishment, but as a grace-filled boundary to keep him abiding. God didn’t shame Paul. He anchored him again in humility, dependence, and Christ-centered living.
Jones critiques some misguided attempts to explain away Paul’s thorn, especially those insisting all physical ailments must be healed if faith is present. But Paul’s experience contradicts that notion. His weakness didn’t diminish his spiritual life—it deepened it. His limitations became the very avenue through which Christ’s power rested on him. This is not a call to glorify suffering, but to recognize that Christ often uses our weakness as the stage upon which His sufficiency is displayed. And rather than focusing on speculation, Paul points us to the simple truth: grace is enough.
📓 Journal Entry – Voice of the Holy Spirit Through Scripture:
I have not asked you to chase experiences to prove I am with you. I have given you Myself. I do not require mountaintop moments to affirm My nearness—I dwell within you. Just as I steadied Paul when he felt the pressure to perform, I steady you when your footing feels unsure. I am not reactive like man. I lead with peace. My way is not the way of striving, but of rest.
You were never meant to derive identity from visions or accomplishments. You are already hidden with Christ in Me. I have seated you in heavenly places, not so you would boast in elevation, but that you might live from union. I know how to gently guard your heart when pride threatens your peace. I know how to remind you that your sufficiency is not in gifts, but in Me.
Even the thorn I allowed in Paul’s life became a quiet grace, an anchor pulling him back into intimacy. So, too, I use the irritants and interruptions of your life not to punish, but to preserve the flow of My life in you. When you feel pressed, do not fear. My power is perfected in your yieldedness. I am always centered in peace, and I draw you into that same center where you may abide and overflow.
Let others speculate. You, stay close. Remain in Me, where no vision can surpass the reality of My presence.
(Scripture references: 2 Corinthians 12:1–10; Colossians 3:1–3; Galatians 2:20; Romans 5:2–5; Philippians 2:13; John 15:4–5; Ephesians 2:6; 1 Peter 5:6–7; 2 Corinthians 4:7–10; Isaiah 30:15)
🔍 Real-Life Analogy:
It’s like stepping onto a freshly waxed floor in socks. One moment, you're upright; the next, your footing is gone. Instinctively, you throw your arms out to find balance, but often, the best thing to do is bend low, plant your feet, and center yourself again. When we lose our spiritual footing—maybe through criticism, comparison, or self-imposed pressure—we often scramble to regain control. But the Holy Spirit invites us to stop, lower our pride, and re-center in Christ. The Spirit steadies us not by pushing us harder, but by grounding us deeper.
Today, when the pressure to react or prove yourself arises—whether from family, colleagues, or internal expectations—pause and listen inward. Yield. Trust the Spirit to live through you with poise and peace. You might say quietly in your heart, “Lord, thank You that I don’t need to defend or elevate myself. I trust You to respond through me with Your life.”
🙏 Prayer of Confidence:
Father, I thank You that I am already secure in Christ. I don’t need to chase experiences or respond to pressure from others. You are my anchor. Your grace meets every moment—whether high or low—with steady sufficiency. I rest in the confidence that You correct without condemnation, guide without chaos, and glorify Yourself through my yielded life. I delight in the simplicity of Your presence, and I trust You to live through me today.