I love Greek!!!

I love how words speak more clearly when we hear them in a different context!

The scripture passage for this Sunday is the one where Paul begs God to remove the "thorn in his flesh" and, instead, God says "My grace is sufficient for you."

Usually when I read God's response, the tone of voice (in my mind) is the same one I use when talking to my cat before bedtime. "No, Mia. I'm not feeding you again. Once is enough....your dinner is sufficient."

It's like God is saying, "I've already given you so much grace! Be satisfied with what you've got." (translation: stop whining, Paul! Toughen up.)

.....BUT THEN I looked at the Greek.

Instead of "(My grace--subject) (IS--verb) (sufficient--adj),"  the Greek actually looks more like this: "(the grace of me--MY OWN grace--subject) (suffices--verb) (to/for you--direct object)"

...God's grace makes us sufficient!!!

ἀρκέω (I'll want to look this up in my own Strong's)...but Biblos.com defines the verb thusly:
"to be possessed of unfailing strength; to be strong, to suffice, to be enough (as against any danger; hence, to defend, ward off) ...my grace is sufficient for thee, namely, to enable thee to bear the evil manfully; there is, therefore, no reason why thou shouldst ask for its removal."

THEN, the "for" (as in "for power is made perfect in weakness) is more like a "because" (and it works better the other way around--like a dependent clause. A modifyer):
          "Strength is made perfect in weakness. (Because of this...just like this...) My grace is enough for you."

...strength coming out of weakness like like the Holy Spirit who helps us pray in our weakness (Romans 8:26)