Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Enough

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. – 2 Corinthians 12:9

Susan E. Isaacs wrote a book called Angry Conversations with God: A Snarky but Authentic Spiritual Memoir. She doesn’t hide anything in her story. Not the pain, not the heartache, not life’s most crushing disappointments. Her brutal honesty mixed with comedy had me alternately in tears and curled up in spasms of laughter. Susan didn’t pretend to enjoy being single. She hated it. She even went as far as taking God to couples counseling. Here is a part of what she wrote:

Susan: I wanted to be loved.

God: So do I, Susan. I have loved you your whole life. I’ve never left you. Even when you wanted me to. I brought you out of despair. I dumped so many blessings into your life – you had nearly everything. Except one thing: a man. Don’t you think I knew that? Did you have no patience?

Ouch. Isn’t that what we do? We have everything we need except ­­­­________. How would you fill in that blank? A spouse. A career. Children. Health. The apostle Paul knew something about this one. He asked God three times in Scripture to take away his health problems. Paul was desperate. He knew the saving power of God’s grace – the power that had already healed more people than he could count. So why couldn’t he be healed as well? But instead of lashing out at God, Paul learned to rest in His grace, trusting that he was firmly in the Healer’s care.

Is God’s grace enough for you? Give Him your pain and anxiety today, trusting in His perfecting timing.

Prayer: If your grace was enough for Paul, shouldn’t it be enough for me too? No matter the circumstances, help me to praise you, Lord, for you are gracious and compassionate; slow to anger and filled with unfailing love. Amen.

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