Sufficient Grace

We often hear and triumphantly quote the passage, “My grace is sufficient for you, My power is made perfect in weakness,” (ref. 2 Cor. 12:9). It brings us such comfort and inspiration! Moreover, we love to immediately follow this verse with another familiar passage, “I can do all things through Christ, who gives me strength,” (Phil. 4:13). Oh the victory and boldness we feel when we state these Scriptures together! We are boasting that God’s grace, which we have already defined as His empowerment for us to do what we could not do on our own (see blog entry “The Worst of Times are the Best of Times” Oct. 18, 2008), is given to us to do, accomplish, achieve, endure, etc. anything that may come in our way! We've got what it takes, and we can do it all!...at least, this is our most common interpretation of these passages.

But the Lord showed me something recently, which takes these verses to a different level of understanding. True, when we have responsibilities to meet, trials to endure, obstacles to overcome, and no human resources (from ourselves or from others) to do so, we must cling to God, who will strengthen us to walk out what He’s placed before us. But that’s the key: He gives us grace to accomplish what He’s placed in front of us to accomplish. Thus, the question is, then, what is it that He has placed before us?

Have you ever come to a point in your life, in which you are “burning out,” exhausted in more ways than one, “burning the candle at both ends,” literally feeling like a hairline piece of thread ready to break, yet all the while claiming, “His grace is sufficient”? Many, if not all, of us have been in this place at one point in our lives, if not quite often. And I wouldn’t doubt that some of you may be feeling this way right now, especially after the holidays, correct? Between last minute Christmas shopping, wrapping, decorations, grocery store runs, cooking, cleaning the house for family, not to mention any work responsibilities, Christmas parties and events (some you might have even hosted or been apart of), traveling, family reunions (and all the stress that those entails)…(deep breath)…then cleaning up after the company leaves, back to shopping – hitting the sales and returning gifts –beginning to prepare for New Year’s activities and/or taking down all the Christmas decorations, and doing everything else imaginable to get the house back in order, the word “exhaustion” merely scrapes the tip of the iceberg on how you are really feeling.

So, is this truly operating in God’s grace? Sure, you were “superman/woman” being able to accomplish (or endure) the festivities and fiasco over the Christmas holidays, but how much of that was operating within the grace of God? Your feelings of exhaustion suggest bare minimum.

When we hear to afore mentioned Scriptures, we immediately assume they infer that we are automatically enabled to do anything and everything that comes in our way, almost as though we place God as a side margin note in our daily planners and schedules, labeling Him as “grace-fuel” for us to complete everything on our calendars. But burnout, exhaustion, stress – these are not the results, which someone would experience operating in the gift of God’s grace; rather, those are the results of operating in works.

“Ok, Jenness, so how do I know the difference? How can I know when I’m operating in grace and when I’m in works?” Good question, and one that I am still learning the answer to myself.

The Lord began to teach me a deeper principle about grace back over the Thanksgiving Holiday. As many of you know, I have not been doing well physically, and, at present, any additional stress, whether good or bad, has to potential to incur detrimental effects on my health. Thanksgiving was no exception. For that day, we (my parents and I) hosted the holiday meal in our home, and invited just three additional loved ones (family and a friend) to join us for the occasion. Unfortunately, what should have been a delightful event, seeing family, getting the house ready, taking part in games and conversation, proved too much for my body to handle. By midmorning, I started to go into an adrenal crisis and was forced to “lock” myself away in my room, away from the noise and energy of Thanksgiving cheer.

While laying in a fetal position on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably (not out of emotional distress, but as an outlet for the physical pressure and pain I was experiencing), unable to move (all muscle strength had left me), I cried out to God, “Lord! I don’t have it (grace)! I can’t leave my room…I can’t even get off the floor…” I was bewildered, frustrated. His grace was “supposed” to be sufficient, so why couldn’t I move? Why was it that I went into an Addisonian crisis, when He was “supposed” to have given me the strength to do what I couldn’t do on my own, such as enjoy company, eat with my family, and celebrate the occasion? Where was His grace?!

As I lay there, the Spirit quietly spoke back the very Scripture I had just launched up to Him in my vexation, “My grace is sufficient for you…” Now, when the Lord repeats anything, it is something important that needs your careful attention…and when He repeats back to you exactly what you told Him, then you REALLY need to listen to what He’s saying! Essentially, He was indicating that I had missed the point of this passage. Then, it clicked! “Jenness, I have given you sufficient grace to do all that I’ve called you to do on this day. If the grace is not there, then I haven’t called you to it. You want My grace to include you being apart of the festivities downstairs; but I have called you to the quietness of your room today. You have sufficient grace to be in Me and rest in your room, where you will experience peace and joy in My presence. This is My grace for you on this day. Do not leave the boundaries of My sufficient grace.” The strength I had for that day was enough to accomplish His “plans” for my Thanksgiving, rather than mine. By remaining in His presence and in quietness for the day, my adrenal crisis subsided, my body calmed down, and I was able to “recoup” from the episode without additional medical attention. However, my adrenal crisis might not have even occurred had I sought Him first on what He had purposed for me to do that day: a missed opportunity I do not intend to miss again.

When the Lord promises sufficient grace, He’s not giving us a “blank check” of energy and resources to accomplish all of our plans and goals. Rather, He’s giving us a specific amount of strength/resources for the task that He has called us to accomplish. You know you are operating within your “budget” of grace when you are walking in peace, in rest, and in joy. What should have been difficult is remarkably easy, and you find yourself operating efficiently and effectively in ways that can only be explained as enabled by God. When you begin to experience the symptoms of burnout, frustration, exhaustion, stress, this is when you have overextended His grace and have stepped into works.

Be assured, God’s grace is sufficient; He will enable and equip you to do what you cannot do, just remember – His grace is budgeted for His plans for you, not yours; "in Him" is where we find sufficient grace.