“This happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead… He will deliver us, yet again, as you help us by your prayers.” 2 Cor. 1:9-11
Heavenly Father, even as the Apostle Paul was tabbed “the apostle of grace,” so he’s also our model of Abba–dependence. The Gospel set him free from the myth of self-sufficiency, the idol of self-sovereignty, and the joke of self-awesomeness. A core value for Paul became “I am not enough.” May the same become truer for us.
We’ll search in vain in all Paul’s writings for a verse that is remotely close to, “You guys go on; I’ve got this one” (1st Folly 3:16). Being responsible to carry our weight is one thing (Gal.6:1) but putting ‘lipstick” and a party dress on our helplessness is quite another. Pride guarantees your resistance; humility opens the floodgates to your grace.
Father, help each of us forsake the illusion of our “enough-ness.” Free us to declare our dependence on you— “the God who raises the dead.” In July 2026, we aren’t facing Paul’s same perils, but many of us are overwhelmed, under-resourced, and out of “magic sauce.” It may be multiple myeloma or multiple family burdens, a backlog of anxiety or a future of change, simmering anger or finally acknowledge our need for spiritual renewal.
In all of it, we thank you for being “the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort” (2 Cor. 1:3). We need both—as do many of our friends. Together, may we fulfill the “as you help us by your prayers” part of today’s Scripture. So while we still smell like last night’s fireworks, today we don’t declare our independence but our utter dependence on you—the God who raises the dead. Hallelujah and So Very Amen.
