I mentioned yesterday that some news I received about a loved one's health threw me for a real loop. It was a totally unexpected shock and quite frankly, it was tough to handle.
After my mom's intense battle with breast cancer, seeing her doing well as she completes her last phase of radiation is a blessing. I had no idea that on the heels of her recovery, I would be dealing with another challenging season involving someone else I hold dear.
Bad news has a lingering impact and tends to loom over our heads like gloomy clouds that precede an intense downpour of rain. Suddenly, the sky that was bright, blue, and cloudless only moments before, turns gray and dark. And the sun's beautiful rays no longer beam through the thick darkness up above.
As the urban saying goes, "Sometimes it be's like that."
There are ups and downs in life we all must go through. This is an inescapable fact. That's why it bothers me when people teach that God's favor, mercy, and anointing somehow act as invisible force fields around us, keeping all trouble and bad things away.
That's just not true.
But God's grace helps us deal with the trouble that we will all come face-to-face with at some point, like it or not. Rather than shielding us from hardship and difficulty, God's grace gives us the strength and power to withstand the intense storm.
I'm reminded of the "thorn in my flesh" Paul talked about in 2 Corinthians 12:7. Though he doesn't specify exactly what he suffered with, the Apostle does let us know that he pleaded with God on three occasions to take it away. But God, who allowed it in the first place, didn't do that. Instead, Paul received a lesson on grace--the same one I want to share with you today.
That's why I'm adding the Lord's response to Paul to your cup of inspiration taken from 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV. It says:
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
So if you're going through right now, when you drink the contents of your cup, you'll be reminded that God's grace is there for you at this very moment.
Just because you are suffering does not mean you are not loved, favored, or blessed.
That just means you are dealing with the human experience we call life.
The good news is that Jesus Christ, who was humanity wrapped in divinity, walked the earth and gave His life so that God's grace would be freely availalbe to all.
His supernatural, unmerited grace saves, sustains, empowers, and helps us in our time of need.
If you need grace to endure today, take heed to Hebrews 4:16 which says, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
Lord, I don't always understand why You allow trouble to come. Sometimes I wish the pain and the rain would simply go away. But I know that life is full of ups and downs, and I must endure hardship at certain times. Please, I ask, help me to lean on Your grace and recognize that You have given me the power and strength to endure every trial. Thank You for helping me to stand firm and remain strong through it all. In Jesus' name, Amen.
As always, thanks for reading and until next time... may today's cup of inspration uplift, encourage, and empower you!
