God’s grace is Enough.
“My grace is sufficient for you.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV.
My thoughts and comments today are about, “life is not fair.”
Have you heard the complaint, “Life is not fair!” Maybe you have felt like that on some occasions. But God is more than fair; God is righteous. Our God is always wise, unchangeably loving, and faithfully strong. No one can promise that your life will be either easy or fair. And when life is challenging and feels unfair, when things do not go as you plan, or develop as you hope, life will not seem very easy either.
Everyone prefers ease and comfort over effort and challenge. We all want the same. No problems. No worries. No troubles. No tears. But without those, there will be no growth and little if any development of faith. In uncertain times when life doesn’t seem to make sense, our faithful and loving God remains the same. The Bible confirms this truth, “Jesus doesn’t change – yesterday, today, tomorrow; He’s always totally Himself.” Hebrews 13:8 The Message.
Andrae Crouch, an amazing singer and songwriter, wrote the song, “Through It All.” The lyrics included this reasoning, “If I never had a problem, how would I know that God could solve them; I’d never know what faith in God can do. But through it all, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus; I’ve learned to trust in God. Yes, through it all, through it all, I’ve learned to depend upon His Word.” Lean on God. Learn to rest upon God’s Word.
Learning to know God through His Word increases your understanding of His righteous nature and loving character. The God of the Bible is even more loving than you have assumed or been told by others. You learn to know God by His Word and your personal experience of Him. Circumstances can send matters in directions that God’s love would not have chosen or wanted for you.
Due to the fallen nature of the world around you, bad stuff happens even to good people. For this moment in time, things may not yet be as God desires or designed them to be. At such times, your humanity is tempted to question, “Why God? Where is God? What will He do? What can He do? Read the Psalms for courage and assurance. The psalmist spoke frequently and honestly about the distress that can weigh on one’s heart and mind. The Holy Spirit – the Comforter – was with you in that moment and His power and presence will neither falter nor fail.
In the New Testament, the Greek word translated as, “distress,” described, “a pressure or narrowness of room.” Today, we call that stress. Stress surrounds and squeezes your joy from daily life. Distress is what you feel mentally, emotionally, and even physically. When life’s situations overwhelm, the Holy Spirit prompts you to turn to God. Why would anyone be reticent to run to the One who alone has abundant grace, abounding love, and unequalled power?
Paul found God and His grace to be enough, never lacking. The Apostle Paul debated with God until, ”[God] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’” Read 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV. There and then, you will find God is enough for you as well.
Could there even be times that God does not quickly deliver you from your distressing situation but allows circumstances to grow increasingly uncomfortable and confining until you will truly look to Him, and listen to Him, and embrace and obey His good will, and rest at peace in His care? “Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect His will really is.” Romans 12:1 NLT.
The Psalmist was distressed, “When I call, give me answers. . . Grace me! Hear me!” Psalm 4:1 The MSG. Grace provides opportunity to recover and regroup. David found the entry to such enlargement was, “When I call . .“ Maybe you are waiting for God, while God has been waiting for you. Call out to Him. The door into His grace awaits you.
Life is not always fair, but your God is righteous and just. I have found this true, “Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Genesis 18:25. Life is not always easy, but your Father’s grace is enough. Your Father has promised, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV.
My prayer for you today is to call upon the Lord and be confident of His answer.
EDL Communications 2019
Website and Archives: allenrandolph.com
Facebook.com/everydaylife.allenrandolph