Sufficient
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. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. (2 Cor. 12:9-10)
My friend recently e-mailed this verse to me.
And when I read her e-mail, I was encouraged.
But today, I feel more like a character in the Dr. Seuss book “Oh, The Places You’ll Go”
because
what do you do
when
it seems
His grace
is not sufficient?
Come, on –
Am I the only one
who
sometimes
feels
His grace
is
not enough?
(Maybe that’s blasphemy – you tell me.)
But right now
right here
it’s also
the
truth.
(Maybe that is the problem. Exactly.)
It
is
the
truth
to me
right now
but only
the
truth
in
my feelings.
And
feelings
are usually
not truth.
But they are so
strong.
And if you have
advice
on how to
fight
those feelings
please
don’t keep it to yourself.
12 Comments
cindyheaden
A story that I recently read…..
Sometimes we wonder, "What did I do to deserve this?" or "Why did God
have to do this to me?" Here is a wonderful explanation! A daughter is
telling her Mother how everything is going wrong, she's failing algebra,
her boyfriend broke up with her and her best friend is moving away.
Meanwhile, her Mother is baking a cake and asks her daughter if she
would like a snack, and the daughter says, "Absolutely Mom, I love your
cake."
"Here, have some cooking oil," her Mother offers.
"Yuck" says her daughter.
"How about a couple raw eggs?" "Gross, Mom!"
"Would you like some flour then? Or maybe baking soda?"
"Mom, those are all yucky!"
To which the mother replies: "Yes, all those things seem bad all by
themselves. But when they are put together in the right way, they make a
wonderfully delicious cake! "
God works the same way. Many times we wonder why He would let us go
through such bad and difficult times. But God knows that when He puts
these things all in His order, they always work for good! We just have
to trust Him and, eventually, they will all make something wonderful!
LaceyKeigley
I like this Cindy.
I guess it is that perspective that is so hard to see sometimes -isn't it?
Ah… time.
Shelley in SC
The answer is that you replace your feelings with His truth! And you choose to believe it, whether you feel it or not. And you cling on to it, and you quote it back to Him, and you lay on your bed and sob it, and you thank Him for it and you don't let go until He comes through in whatever way He chooses to. And He will because He keeps His word.
Lacey
Thank you.
And thank you.
nikkie
you are not alone, my friend. the only way i can combat the 'feelings' that His grace is not sufficient is to drown the feelings in the Word. again. and again. and again.
and just do the next thing. ugh, that's easier said than done, isn't it?
praying.
Lacey
Thanks for continuing to pray Nikki.
And for the reminder about the Word.
The only truth.
Stacy Finnigan
My reaction to this is not really helpful, but here it is.
I think, a lot: "well, I must somewhere, somehow, deeply down inside actually believe this. Or long to believe it. Else I would have given up. Or not be longing for it anymore."
I think we need only to be seriously concerned when the ache for the better is gone.
Then we've lost sight.
Then we've lost hope.
Then we've lost everything our God is.
(and it can be then where He shows up biggest.)
Lacey
I like your sentence "…we need only be seriously concerned when the ache for the better is gone".
I do have the ache – but maybe only because I don't like the present so I have to hope for the future?
cathyjoy
Please…let me know when you find the answer!
Manda
Nope not alone… I feel it too somedays.
~M
srs
I feel exactly the same way but have no answers on how to replace feelings with facts…prayer? Yea I know but God and I are in a tug of war..i give it to him and pull it back…I will be reading all day on how to replace these feelings……waiting expectedly.
laceykeigley
I look forward to hearing what you discover.