I wish I could say that I awoke this morning with a song
in my heart. Or a spring in my step. Or a sense of excitement about the day.
But the truth is that I lingered in bed far longer than I should have, with a sense of overwhelm threatening to latch on before I had even gotten out of bed.
Can you relate?
I wished we could all return to a pre-COVID world where
the coronavirus death toll was not part of the daily news, where cashiers were
not distanced behind plexiglass, and where we did not give a second thought to
shaking others’ hands. I felt inadequate to meet the demands of the day, with all
its uncertainty, volatility, and a seemingly endless “to-do” list.
As my thoughts continued their spiral downward, I was
struck by a glimmer out of the corner of my mind’s eye.
What was that twinkling amid my dark reverie? And then I remembered.
Grace. Grace! Enablement.
Anointing. Power. To do what we could never accomplish by human effort.
How could I have forgotten?
But He said to me, My grace (My favor and
loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and
enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me! (II Corinthians 12:9 AMPCE)
When is grace most abundant? In our weakness. In our trouble. When life is just plain hard.
Why are we so apt to rely on our own efforts and lean on
our own understanding when marvelous grace enables us to do what we are supposed to do and be what we are supposed to be? Why is it that we depend on comfort foods and chocolate and coffee to see us through a rough day when grace is enough and sufficient?
‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty.
(Zechariah 4:6 NIV)
As stunning as God’s provision is, the grace that Jesus
died to give us can be in vain as the apostle Paul warned (I Corinthians 15:
10). We must receive and employ the gift of grace to enjoy its benefits.
For who are you, O great mountain [of human obstacles]? Before Zerubbabel…you shall become a plain [a mere molehill]!
… with loud shoutings of the people, crying, Grace, grace to it! (Zechariah 4:7 AMPCE)
Amid the daily grind, we can grab hold of the lifeline
of grace and transform our mountains into molehills.
Will you join me today in “gracing” the areas of our greatest struggle?
“Jesus, I receive your grace today to overcome the
difficult circumstance of ______________.”
“Jesus, I receive your grace today to accomplish the dreaded
task of ______________.”
“Jesus, I receive your grace today to overcome _______________ bad habit.”
“Jesus, I receive your grace today to live in a world
where everything that can be shaken is being shaken.”
“Whenever we are given hard things, we are always given the grace to turn it into a
glorious thing.” Ann Voskamp
Amazed Anew at His Grace,
Susan
Do you have a story about grace in your life? Share with us below!
