If Jesus was all that you had, would He be enough? Would His grace be sufficient? When you’re weary and at the end of your rope, will you trust that He will be your strength?
I can say I rely on the Lord, that He will provide, that He is all I need. But when the trials come, when hope seems gone…
Earlier this year, I was in an extended period of time where I felt like all I had was Jesus. When I was so tired I felt like I could drop, I had to trust that God would be my rest. When I felt so alone and that no one understood what I was struggling through, I had to believe that God saw me and loved me.
I knew I needed Him to even get through a day, so I sought Him out. But like the Israelites in the wilderness, and like the disciples with Jesus, when I got out of the storm, I forgot how my God had taken care of me and how He had never left me.
How can I trust God to meet the biggest needs, but doubt Him in the smaller things? How can I trust God in the hardest times, but when it's something that seems "too small" for God, I feel like I have to provide for myself instead of trusting Him to take care of me?
It’s natural human nature. We think we have to take control. But we forget that God knew us long before we were born. We forget that He orchestrated every moment before our lives started, for us to be born when we did, so that we could help reach people with the Gospel.
We easily become blind to and take for granted the blessings God gives us. So, when life starts to get difficult, we panic and cry (and sometimes complain) to God about why He isn’t taking care of us. But the truth is, He never left us. And He never will.
“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9a
Grace is undeserved favor or assistance. Meaning, we have done nothing that would make God owe us anything. His help is a free gift. His love is not dependent on our faithfulness to Him.
Sufficient means that we will have enough to get through a situation or season. God doesn't give us barely enough to get through, or only half of what we need. He gives us exactly what we need and He knows what we need even before we ask Him.
I think of Peter and when God allowed him to walk on the water. When he focused on the storm and the waves crashing around him, his heart began to panic and he began to sink. But as long as his eyes were on Jesus, his savior, God gave him strength to do impossible things.
When our eyes are on Jesus, the waves might still surround us.
Isaiah 40:31 is an encouragement in those difficult times.
"But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
Have there been times in your life where all you had was Jesus to help you get through? No family members or friends who were close by or who understood? Maybe you had to provide for your family but just lost your job? Maybe you felt deserted by those who were closest to you?
What practical things did you do to remind yourself of God's faithfulness? How did you keep your eyes on Jesus when it felt like the waves were only getting higher?
Amen!!