One Quart Low On Grace

Everyone told me that God’s grace is sufficient for each day; but when the clock read 6:30 in the morning and my tank had already run dry, how could I get through one more hour, let alone the rest of the day?

I thumbed through the box of Bible cassettes, searching for the one labeled II Corinthians. Of course, since I now lived in total darkness, I couldn’t actually read the label. With more than one book recorded on each cassette, the play-stop-replace-take-next-cassette routine only added to my frustration.

At last, I found the right cassette tape, fast-forwarding to Chapter Twelve. Paul’s pleading over his own vision troubles had made this particular part of his New Testament writings especially meaningful to me. I hoped to take comfort in Paul’s words, once again.

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” (2 Cor. 12:8-9)

Over and over I played these two key verses. I longed to have the strength of Paul; I surely had his determined pleading down. I’d asked the Lord to lift the thick, black veil a lot more than three times. No lightning bolt of revelation sprung into my mind, regardless of how many times I recited the verses right along with the male voice on the recording. I knew them well.

With a deep sigh of hopelessness, I flipped the cassette out and held it up to the Lord. “Your Word says Your grace is sufficient. Well, today it isn’t. How can I get more grace for today, God? I’m at least a quart low. I desperately need a re-fill, if You expect me to get out of this chair.”

I felt the sensation of filling begin from deep within my middle. I can’t really explain it, but it was as if someone had a pitcher held over my head. As the contents flowed over me, the sense of fullness spread inside and began rising—kind of like lava. Soon, the overflow spilled out and over the top of my head.

It made me explode in one, great big hearty guffaw. The laughter proved cleansing, as well as invigorating to both my body and soul. God loved me; He really loved me.

Jeremiah 31:2-3 says, “Thus says the LORD: ‘The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.’”

I had survived the attempts on my life, and certainly felt like I roamed in a wilderness at times. This passage assured me that the people of Israel had found grace in their wilderness and I knew God had grace for me while I sojourned in mine. I sought rest, just as the Israelites had. God met our need with His faithfulness and love.

Even today, on those days when I’m feeling like life’s challenges are just too much, I recall the above. It continues to make me smile at the recollection of the overflow. It also serves as a great reminder that God loves me and understands how hard things are for me at that moment. I know just where to go and I’m not afraid to approach the King.

“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.” (Hebrews 4:16)

How has the Lord revealed his message of grace to you during the hard times? We can learn from sharing with one another.