You never know what a day may bring. We’ve experienced that truth over the past few months.
When COVID hit, our youngest daughter’s college closed its doors and she moved back home. One month later our oldest daughter, suddenly faced with drastic and undesirable changes to her living situation, also moved back home. I rearranged my kitchen and refrigerator, and we lined every wall in a basement bedroom with boxes and furniture from one daughter’s dorm room and the other’s former apartment. Everyone pivoted, and we now live a new normal, something none of us saw coming.
God immediately provided each of us with the grace He knew we needed, like a loving parent who supplies whatever you need before you ask. God proved Himself faithful to meet everyone’s needs, even in an imperfect situation.
Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us, The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, For His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
Sometimes, however, we forget to reach for the grace God offers, then we stumble and fall. He’s made it always available (I Corinthians 10:13) but in fear, anger, or hastiness, we may overlook the grace He supplies.
In the Old Testament we read about God’s kindness and faithfulness to His people and we’re puzzled that they wandered so far from their only source of blessing. Yet sometimes we forget about God and wander as well. When we finally realize our mistake, we assume He is mad at us, so we linger at a distance.
But God wants us running toward Him rather than away from Him. Since Jesus took all of our punishment for all our sin for all time (Hebrews 10:11-14), He longs to help us past our failures and to empower us toward a victorious future.
As Hebrews 4:16 says, Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
He longs to show us mercy for our past and has an unending supply of grace for any situation we face.
The Bible overflows with examples of God’s grace. Noah had grace to build and fill the ark in the midst of hostile and mocking neighbors. God provided Joseph grace to excel in any situation, whether in jail or as Prime Minister of Egypt. Israel had grace to wander around the wilderness for forty years, including shoes and clothing that supernaturally withstood the wear and tear. And God provided Paul with grace to persevere through his missionary journeys, despite the beatings and jail terms awaiting him at almost every stop.
While we haven’t been asked to build an ark or wander through the wilderness for decades, God extends grace for the challenges we do face, large or small, personal or professional, internal or external. Whatever the obstacle or problem, He offers the strength, stamina, stability, and anything else we need!
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed (2 Corinthians 9:8).
Wonderful thoughts, Carrie! And I love all the origami 🙂