Freedom from Fear Formula, #3
God’s grace will be sufficient for every situation.
Thorn in the flesh
The second truth we looked at in our Freedom from Fear Formula, was how God uses circumstances to benefit those who love Him. During that discussion, you may have been thinking, “That’s all well and good, but how do I get through today? How do I survive right now?” Thankfully, our God – being the loving Father that He is – has made provision for our day to day survival. He has promised that His grace will be sufficient for every situation that we face.
So what is this grace, and how will it be sufficient? According to Strong’s Greek Dictionary of the new Testament, the word used for grace is charis. Charis is defined as “graciousness of manner or act: acceptable, benefit, favor, gift, grace, joy liberality, pleasure, thank worthy.” That covers a lot of good things! Simply, grace is God’s empowering us with whatever we need to make it through whatever situation we are in.
2 Corinthians 12:7-10 gives us an account of one of Paul’s conversations with God about grace. Paul was battling some kind of “thorn” in the flesh. We really are given no insight as to what it was. But we do know the trial was severe enough for Paul to ask God three times to remove it. After the third request, God’s answer to Paul was, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Paul then responded, “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
He will carry you!
Paul became content with the struggles that he was facing because He realized that when he was weaker, God’s strength would be greater. The grace Paul received is the same grace that empowers us to face trying times – both physical and spiritual – with joy and peace. It was that same grace that allowed Joseph to do what was right even though he was unjustly thrown into prison. (Genesis 39) It was the same grace that empowered Paul and Silas to sing praises while in shackles in the jail. (Acts 16:19-34) And it was that same grace that sent Jesus to the cross to bear our sins in our place:
But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. Hebrews 2:9
If God did that for Paul, we can rest in knowing that He will also do it for us! It is mind-boggling to think about the power of God’s grace! When you are feeling at your lowest, remember it is then that God’s power is greatest. He will carry you through the rough times.
Never let you down.
Remember that God said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5b) And we have this beautiful promise in Isaiah 46:4, “I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” Isaiah 46:4 (NLT) Notice that God has said “throughout your lifetime.” Unlike earthly fathers, God will care for us our entire lives.
Also, unlike some earthly fathers, God will never let us down. He has great compassion for us and loves us as dear children. Psalm 103:13 assures us, “As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.” God is always a good God and a perfect father. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
Situations that are not His will.
I understand what it is like to live in fear every day. It is horrible! So we always need to examine why we are where we are. Sometimes we are forced into situations over which we have no control. And sometimes, for many different reasons, it is best for us to stay in the situation that we are in. But sometimes we need to make decisions to change the circumstances that we are living in, as I was eventually forced to do. We may find that God’s peace is in short supply if we choose to live in situations that are not His will for us. We have to be willing to seek His plan for our life in order to experience His peace for our circumstances.
If you are unsure about whether or not your situation is His will for you, ask Him. He has promised to guide us in every decision that we have to make. (Proverbs 3:6) And He has promised to give us wisdom if we lack it. (James 1:5) So if you are struggling to find God’s grace, ask Him if there is something about your life that He wants you to change.
God is the one who gives grace.
We also must understand that God is the One who gives grace. We cannot empower ourselves with peace and joy to get through life’s tough times, but God can. It is His power that provides the grace we need: And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8
And again in Hebrews 4:16 we are told, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
When you are in tough times, you have to pursue faith from the Lord to believe that His grace is real and available to you for every situation. It will carry you through anything, and He wants to give it to you. All you have to do is ask.
See you out there! 🙂
GUARD RAIL: Know that God will provide whatever you need to get through every situation that you face.
“I will be your God throughout your lifetime—until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.”
Isaiah 46:4 (NLT)