Thursday, September 1, 2011

Enough IS Enough



You may be spending a little more time with God these days than you ever expected you’d have to. Desperation seems to do that . . . draw you near to God. When we’re down, with nowhere to look but up, we find God’s Word to be true: “all things work together for good for those who love Him.” (Romans 8:28) We come to grasp that “ALL things” includes those things that contribute to our temporary despair.

In His presence, you may find peace, but more often you’ll feel desolate in an endless desert of unanswered questions. At times, your burdens will seem to only get heavier at His throne, not lighter. You will find yourself feeling severely dehydrated, when you’re sure that God promised you would never thirst. (John 4:14) And while you’re drowning in despair, God’s only reply to you after pouring out your heart and soul in anguish may be, “Trust me, My grace is sufficient for you . . . it is enough.” When we’ve had it with life and we’re shouting at the heavens, “Enough is enough!” . . . God’s voice pierces our soul: “Exactly! I give you My grace which is “enough” . . . it’s all you need. Enough IS Enough!” (Frustrated, we realize that we’re obviously having a communication problem with heaven . . . the clouds must be getting in the way!)

Our prayers can seem trivial in times of pain, suffering, and overwhelming uncertainty. And when God isn’t giving us the answers we seek, our faith tends to waiver, or all out fail. We came to God for a life changing “Yes” and “I’ll do it right now.” But, what we leave with is a “Not yet” or even an all out “No.” He sends us away with “grace” . . . which hardly seems “sufficient.” Grace doesn’t pay the bills, heal the sick, or rescue us out of an abusive situation. (or so we think) Quite frankly, we’re convinced that if grace was worth anything in the first place we wouldn’t be in the situation we’re in. But our ways are not His. His ways are so much higher. (Isaiah 55:9) We ask to be rescued, but God wants us to experience what it’s like to have Him take our hand and walk with Him through the deepest, darkest, and most desolate valleys in life. He wants us to experience the fullness of who He is in our emptiness. He’s giving us something so much more valuable than what we want . . . He’s bringing us to a place of receiving all that He gives.

When we come seeking God’s face, He embraces us with His grace. And grace may not eliminate your pain and suffering, but it will consume it with a power far greater than anything in this world. Grace takes a sorrowful soul and fills it with a joy that cannot be taken away. In the depths of your pain, you will find pleasure in the smallest pieces of life. In the midst of your brokenness, God’s grace will never make you feel more whole. Although you will face ongoing moments of weakness, it is grace that fills you with strength that surpasses anyone’s understanding. Though your soul is dying, grace renews your spirit and you become more alive. When you understand God’s grace, you realize that those things you once viewed as mutually exclusive—sorrow and joy, pain and pleasure, death and life, fear and security, abandonment and comfort—are parts of a greater whole. It’s your soul that is being stretched and it’s grace that is causing your flesh to die and your spirit to soar.

Through your most trying circumstances, something marvelous is happening: you are becoming more aware of the power of God’s grace and your need for it. He’s working a miracle within you . . . He’s allowing you to be emptied out, so that He can fill you with Himself. And He does it all by His grace alone.
 “. . . whatever I am now, 
it is all because God poured out his (grace)
special favor on me . . .” 
(1 Corinthians 15:10 NLT)

One thing you’ll learn about God: He says what He means and He means what He says. And in those moments when you feel like throwing in the towel, when you feel as though God has forgotten you and you’re too weak to carry on, all you must do is come upon your knees to His throne of grace. It is there that you’ll find that when He says His grace is enough . . . it is not just enough . . . it is MORE than enough.

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace,
that we may obtain mercy,
and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16 KJV




10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great thoughts today! I am so thankful that God's grace goes exceedingly above all we ask or think. It is more than our sin, or any trial we face. Blessings to you today.

Connie Arnold said...

Your post is so encouraging, Cherie! Thank you for the wonderful reminders of God's grace. May you be abundantly blessed always!

Nikki (Sarah) said...

A message I needed to read as the kids go back to school and routines begin

A multi-dimensional life said...

Wow! What more can I say?
You speak the truth!
Cherie, your words are a gift from God.
This is a message we all need, for whatever reason...for all of life! I'm going to forward your link to someone who is going through a valley and needs this encouragement! So glad God brought me here today! Blessings to you, my friend...abundant blessings and joy!

Marja Verschoor-Meijers said...

Hi Cherie, I gave you the Liebster award, over at my blog.

Peggy said...

Blessings Cherie...WOW!!! I am so thankful that I have been made more aware of HIS infinite GRACE and the POWER in His Grace! It truly is ENOUGH!

Your words and thoughts are so insightful and filled with God's Loving Truth. May my flesh die so my spirit soars. Thank you for your wise words. It is so sad that until we are so desperate that we do not seek Him so diligently. In our society, we do not know when we have ENOUGH! I have learned much of this by living in another country that's poor.

May our communication remain unclouded. I hope you got my last email explaining my lack. But I have not given up and you should not give up on me. Hope HS is going well.

Love and God's grace still amazes me,
Peggy

Tammi said...

Dear Cherie,
God continues to use you in a special way. I'm so thankful for your willingness to share the wisdom that He gives you.
I have an award for your blog on my post today. :)
Sending hugs!
Love and prayers,
tammi

Michelle said...

Wonderful post, Cherie! Thank you!

Unknown said...

Hello coming from your long lost sister in christ..lol.. Hey.. Im so sorry it has been so long since Ive been by..but I promise to be around more..I have been so busy with the move and trying to get connected, and with the Heart of the Home blog... but I just wanted to stop by and tell you Hello and that I will be back to visit again real soon.. xoxoxo

Heaven said...

This was so beautifully written! Thanks for sharing!

Blessings, Heaven

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I am so blessed that you would take the time to share your thoughts with me! You encourage my faith and I pray that God will fill you to the full with His love, mercy,and grace! With joy, Cherie

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