and he said to me, “my grace is sufficient for you, for that my power is fulfilled in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Grace is sufficient (it is enough) for in weakness (being without strength; faulty, illness, suffering) grace is enough for God's power to be fulfilled (completed, finished, accomplished). Is weakness and frailty needed to receive grace so that God's power is fulfilled in us?
be humble under the mighty hand of God so that he exalts you in the opportune time (1 Peter 5:6)
Humility means to show true lowliness, it is an admittance of being weak and frail and in need of help, help from someone who has power to help. This is why in the next verse, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Paul writes "for this reason I am content in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions and anguish on behalf of Christ, for whenever I am weak then he is strong." In these weaknesses Paul had learned the nature of grace and how humility is an important part in receiving grace.
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6-7)
James tells us that the trial produces endurance which has the intended work of maturing us. Being brought into God's fullness is growing up into maturity. A mature person is a doer of the word not just a hearer only. To grow we are to "receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls" (James 1:21). Being meek is having a humble, or submissive quality. Thus humility, meekness is required to grow in grace.
We stand in grace which we have access to by faith, so that we grow strong through God's power. We grow in grace and in knowledge of Jesus Christ. Think about the importance of grace in growth. Surely, the scriptures tell us when sin increased grace super abounded. For those who were under the Mosaic Law, grace meant so much more to them. Paul writes we have died to the Law and are bound to Christ in a new covenant. Where grace is sufficient. For those who go back to justification under the Law, they fall from grace (Galatians 5:4). And if grace is forfeited a rooted of bitterness can defile many (Hebrews 12:15).
and the God of all grace, the one calling you into his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a while, himself will restore, confirm, strengthen, establish you (1 Peter 5:10)
Peter wrote earlier of the need to humble ourselves under God so he will exalt us. He ends his letter by saying he testifies of the true grace of God. True grace Peter denied Christ three times, but Jesus said after being sifted by the devil he would return and strengthen the brothers (Luke 22:32). Peter speaks from experience of how God's power was fulfilled in him, in weakness, in humility receiving grace. He went through a trial by fire which purified him, proved his faith, which is most precious to God.
Grace is a central part of the new covenant. It is important how we think of grace. Though grace abounds and we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ if we do sin, we do not continue in sin so grace may abound. We should not look at grace as a means to "give in" during the trial. When insults, hardships, persecutions, and anguish come (these things that are thorns planted by the devil to choke out our growth) we need to endure. And to endure we need humility to receive grace and God's word thus God's power during these times.
“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:5-6)
Do you see how God's grace is sufficient? And what grace requires for God's power to work? God gives grace to the humble and grace is enough for God's power to be fulfilled. We need humility to receive grace and we need grace to receive God's power to help in our time of weakness. So we can ask for God's power to work but first we must ask for humility so that we can receive grace. God gives grace to the humble. Sufficient is grace, when we humble ourselves, so that God exalts us and His power is fulfilled.