His Grace is Sufficient
Grace
(Editor’s Note: This is a guest story by contributor Maria Drayton. Maria’s devotionals are always so personal and build such a connection with the reader. Check out her last devotional, “When it Rains,” here.P.S. Devotional Diva is going on a two-week break after this post!)
I had a complaint-no I had many complaints. These complaints I reviewed, meditated on, and professed every morning as I sat in my time with the Lord. I complained about people, situations, people, things, events, people etc. After I finished my complaining then I would begin my time thanking God. I had always heard,
“cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you,” 1 Peter 5:7.
But the whole scripture says,
“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
So, I believed I was doing the right thing, telling Him all about my problems. I felt like David in Psalms 143:1
“Lord, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy; in your faithfulness and righteousness come to my relief.”
After I got it all out the only response I received, if any at all was, “My grace is sufficient.” I hadn’t learned to sit quietly in my suffering yet. In fact, I am really not quiet about anything let alone suffering. Suffering always increased my complaints. The truth is I’m a whiner, a complainer, and I get frustrated when I don’t see the move of the Lord in what I see as a “dire” situation. I remember days of standing in the bathroom looking at myself in the mirror crying. I always found it was more effective when I could look at how pathetic I was. I wanted to see what God saw. Looking back, I was just pitiful.
Paul tells us in Philippians 2:14-16,
“Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.”
I realize that I need to grow up and stop complaining.
“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me,” 1 Corinthians 13:11.
I am learning to be thankful and simply praise Him for who He is. I awoke this morning thanking God for those things that are “good, lovely, pure and praiseworthy.” Philippians 4:8,
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
His grace alone is sufficient for me just because of who He is.
2 Corinthians 12:9, “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
Not only is His grace sufficient but I am undeserving of even that. But because of who He is, I have access to it. Not because of who I am but who He is. Thank you Lord for your grace. By definition, grace is defined as, “unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification.” Also as “a virtue coming from God”, “approval or favor” or a “temporary exemption.” I marvel at all these definitions of “grace” and know even further that I am not deserving of it, so why do I complain?
I am not worthy of Him or His grace but He willingly, undeservingly gives it to me daily. And His grace alone gets me through each day. Not only is He “grace”, but love and He is indeed concerned about my life details and the things that bother me. Although I don’t see any quick change in my “situations”, I know He is faithful and is moving despite my “seeing” it. I will not complain.
So this day I am thankful, thankful for this day that He allowed me to see, thankful for his mercy, thankful for my blessings, thankful for everything He brings me today, and most of all for His grace to continue on in my faith walk without complaint. His grace is indeed sufficient.
Maria Drayton, originally from Seattle, Washington is a graduate of Washington State University and has a degree in Communications with an emphasis in Journalism through the Edward R. Murrow School of Communications. Maria currently resides in Deptford, New Jersey with her husband and son. With a passion for the Lord, she desires to bring a young, fresh, new look into intimacy with the Lord. Purchase Maria’s newly released book, “The King and I: Steps for Living in Today’s World Through Intimacy with the Lord” on her website: www.mariadrayton.com !
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