The Need for Grace

At a recent Bible study with some good friends where we were talking about some of the difficult situations that people we knew had gone through. We lifted up those we knew who had ongoing trials. At times like these, we feel sorrow at the pain and suffering that our friends are enduring and our faith in God's sovereignty drives us to seek him. We also follow the commandment in Galatians 6:2 to bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the Law of Christ; the One who extended grace, paid our sin debt and secured our eternal destiny.

As we prayed, the Holy Spirit gave me one of those light bulb moments. Without hardship, trials, pain, suffering, illness or loss--grace would not be needed. All too often, our "I got this" mentality caused us to surge off on our own heading into disaster; leaving a trail of sin and broken relationships as roadkill. Psalm 55:22 offers a much better approach--Cast your burden upon the Lord, and he will sustain you... God is the One whose got this covered!

2 Corinthians 9:8 says 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. God's grace is unleashed when we allow His strength to be made perfect in our weakness. Not only that, but our Father is guaranteeing we have all the resources we need and the outcome can be nothing but successful. We were created in His image (Genesis 1:26) and His overriding goal for our lives is to transform us into the image of Jesus Christ. His grace is always sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9).