My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. II Cor. 12:9 –The Message
His grace is enough. Did you guess it? I know it sounds to our well-worn religious ears like an old cliché. But, it is truth and is powerful for us if we’ll accept it. (Paul knew; read his account in the surrounding scriptures). God’s grace is enough for every difficult situation we will ever go through even if it doesn’t seem like it.
You see, we all have a choice. We can buck and fight against our situations, or we can choose to embrace what God has given us. And here’s the key. We don’t receive His grace until we humble ourselves and admit that we can’t do it on our own. ( God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble. James 4:6)
Your “it” may be home educating your children. It may be dealing with a difficult child or even choosing to love your husband when he’s not so loveable. It may be your financial situation, your job, your singleness, or dealing with parents. Whatever “it” is, when we quit seeing our circumstances as obstacles to defeat or overcome, and choose to embrace them, that is when we receive His grace. It means choosing to let go, and letting Him be in control. And that’s sometimes a hard choice to make.
Interestingly, when we only endure our circumstances, they may eventually overtake us, drown us, and defeat us, while embracing can do a mighty work in our hearts.
So, if you find yourself fighting, striving and bucking against the hard things in your life, let go!
Embrace to receive His grace!
II Cor. 9:8
God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done.
Col 1:10-11
As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.
hey Robin, I love this because so many times we lean on our own understanding and not God's grace. We need to stop thinking and dwelling on the negative and take everything captive to the Word of God. He says to think of whatever is true, lovely, etc.
ReplyDeleteWe are suppose to be thankful and what is eternal. I want to challenge everyone to keep a thankful journal!
Thanks, Sheri.
ReplyDeleteI'm STILL learning about God's grace! It just seems so much easier to go forward with 'what we know' (or think we know) rather than waiting on God.
A thankful journal is a GREAT idea....I've been so bad at journaling. One of my daughters has journaled since she was about 14. Now she's 21 and doesn't miss a day!
Robin-Thanks for this post!! One of my cousins died yesterday and it was tough, although not totally unexpected, to hear. And then today I heard some other news that I really have NO choice but to accept and embrace God's grace.
ReplyDeletejw - so sorry for your loss. It's hard to lose someone you love even when it's expected. I know you guys are going through a tough time---hang in there. I'm glad you're CHOOSING to embrace. I'm still praying for you!
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