I Am Sufficient

I think this is a beautiful verse and picture for this new month of August. I have always loved this verse. Chapter 12 is where the Apostle Paul discusses his “thorn in the flesh”. He doesn’t tell us what the thorn is, but he makes it very clear that this trial was for his good and God’s glory. Notice that Paul is quoting the answer he received from God. Paul prayed fervently for the thorn/trial to be removed. God’s answer was “No.”  Instead, God promised to be with Paul and that His grace would uphold Paul. God reminded Paul that He was enough! And then there's that word “sufficient”. This is a great commentary on that word:
My grace is sufficient for you.” Redpath explains this aspect best: “Do you see the humor of the situation? God’s grace: me. His grace sufficient for little me! How absurd to think that it could ever be any different! As if a little fish could swim in the ocean and fear lest it might drink it dry! The grace of our crucified, risen, exalted, triumphant Savior, the Lord of all glory, is surely sufficient for me! Do you not think it is rather modest of the Lord to say sufficient?”
And so, as we step into a new month, may we do it with full confidence, knowing that God is with us and He is enough!

Grace Through Trials

I met a new friend via Facebook. Recently her husband was diagnosed with cancer. On Friday I heard those words come from an oncologist. Many of you and your loved ones have as well. It was unnerving to hear “You have cancer”. I sat on the table in stunned silence and shock. But that feeling didn’t last long. It was soon replaced with thankfulness and hope. I knew the prayers of many were being answered as I felt no fear, only peace. As I left the office and sat by myself, I began to think about all the tests that led me to this moment. The internist that immediately sent me for an ultrasound. The technician  who patiently looked and looked for the tumor - like a needle in a haystack. She would find it, and then it would disappear - but she persisted, taking pictures, showing the radiologist. Then more pictures, more instructions from the radiologist. At one point she returned to the room and said, “Oh Jesus! I need You!” I told her, “If it helps to know this, I want you to know that I prayed specifically for you this morning.” There, in the darkened room, we formed a bond because of Jesus. 

Laura’s husband has a much more aggressive cancer. And yet, Laura could share these words:

“I’ve wrestled with what to say. As much as I love words, most words fail me right now. We are facing hard hard stuff here and there have been leaky eyes and quivering jaws. Not gonna candy coat that. 

There’s nothing good about this latest news - nothing, but there’s everything good about the God who has allowed it in our life and who holds our hand as we face it. There’s everything good about Him regardless of the temporal outcome of this current trial. God will not cease to be good to us if healing doesn’t happen for us. He is not capricious or callous or uncaring. He is kind and compassionate - always kind and compassionate -  and He remains good even in things that are bad.

His goodness to us is much higher and deeper and wider than the worst case scenario of cancer. His goodness to us is not measured by what He gives to us, nor voided by what He takes from us. His goodness to us is seen in His unwavering love for us - a merciful and undeserved love that, because of Christ, nothing can separate us from. It is unshakeable, immutable, irrevocable, and eternal.

His grace will be sufficient for this ... just as it has been sufficient for everything that’s gone before this. I don’t say that tritely, but truthfully and on that truth I hang my hope!

I don’t always (or even often) understand the ways of my God ... but through the trials of my life I have learned to trust the God of my ways. That hasn’t changed with this cancer update.”

I’m thankful for my new Facebook friend, and someday soon I hope to meet her face to face. Because of Christ, we both can joyfully declare, “It is well with my soul!” If you are going through a difficult time, I pray that Laura’s words are a source of comfort and point you to the Great Physician - the only One Who can offer us ultimate healing from the pervasive disease of sin.

Be An Encourager Today

Welcome to the blog! It’s been over a year since I’ve written, so my hope is that I will be more faithful in posting. I think we can all agree how wonderful it is when someone truly takes the time to give us an encouraging word. I was reminded yesterday of how life-changing a positive compliment can be as I listened to this story about a 3rd grade teacher. She assigned her class to write a paragraph about a favorite birthday memory. After she collected the assignment, she began the laborious task of reading each paper. She had fun writing an encouraging message on each paper and adding a sticker. “Great job!” “What a fun memory!” “I really enjoyed reading this!”  And then came little Derrick’s paper. It was a MESS, filled with poor penmanship, spelling errors,  - it was even off-topic. The teacher’s first response was to take out the read pen and go to town circling all the mistakes. She stopped herself and pictured little Derrick. How would a paper filled with red marks help him? She desperately wanted to leave him with an encouraging word. But what? She thought for several minutes and finally wrote these words on the paper - “Nice margins!!”

Derrick was over-joyed when he received his paper back. For the rest of the year the teacher was able to teach and guide her little student to better writing and spelling. We should be thinking of ways to encourage those that cross our path. Establish eye contact with your waitress, smile at the person checking out your groceries, sincerely thank a salesperson that was helpful. How many people do we casually pass that are dealing with health concerns or financial stress or marriage problems. Look for the good. Find a person that needs to have “Good margins!!” written on their heart. ❤️