Grace

“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.  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

There is something miraculous about grace. Grace is a surprise visit from a friend who drove eight hours just to eat a meal with you in the cafeteria and sleep in the ICU waiting room. Grace is making some of the best memories in the most unlikely of places. Grace is watching something beautiful come out of one of the ugliest times in our lives. Grace is finding friendship and restoring a relationship because your perspective on the scenery changed. Grace is God doing what the doctor’s had not expected. Grace is bringing laughter into a place where there are too many tears. Grace is waking up and finding the strength to face another day. Grace is amazing.

My mom bought me a shirt that says “Just Be Amazing Always” because she said that is what she kept telling me those first days in the hospital. I have heard others comment about “how strong I am,” but I promise you that it has never been me being strong or amazing. It has always been God’s grace. There have been so many days when I wanted to quit, so many times when I’ve felt so weak and too broken to be repaired. Yet, God’s grace has always been sufficient . . . even if it was only for me to take one more step.

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26). Posted on my “prayer board” in my office is this verse. It is a reminder that I need often–no matter how bad things get, no matter how weak I feel, God’s grace will never fail me. This is hope.