Dear Missionary Lady,
Greetings in the name of the God of grace. I have heard
grace defined as all that I need for all that I face. As such, it is God’s
provision that is specially designed and delivered to fit the precise current circumstance.
Perhaps many of you have heard the story of Caleb and Ciara,
which has been trending on Facebook since Christmas. Ciara, the mother of two
young boys, was stricken with multiple concurrent illnesses that left her at
the point where the doctors basically told the family to say goodbye. By God’s
grace, she remains alive, although she has had all four limbs amputated, and
her condition is serious.
Lots of people are following this saga and are praying for
this Christian couple. They have been featured in news articles, loved by hospital
staff, and have captured the interest and admiration of many Christians and
non-Christians alike. The discussion is often about their testimony and about
how God is using them to impact those around them, as well as strangers who are
familiar with their story.
I can’t imagine that they have not gone through times of
great struggle, although, as far as I am aware, that is not surfacing in reports
or updates. The picture that everyone seems to have is that of an incredible
Christian couple with an outstanding testimony and far-reaching impact. I ask
myself, “How is that possible?” And the answer is that God is giving them an
incredible amount of grace. In reality, maybe they are consistently victorious
and faith-filled. We have probably all had situations in our lives in which we experienced
peace and joy and acceptance that were totally unexpected and illogical and
which could not possibly be explained except as the abundant grace of God.
God can give this kind of grace. Consider some verses. “But
he giveth more grace” (James 4:6). “Grace unto you … be multiplied” (I Peter 1:2).
“The exceeding grace of God in you” (II Corinthians 9:14). “And God is able to
make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all
things, may abound to every good work” (II Corinthians 9:8). More grace.
Multiplied grace. Exceeding grace. Abundant grace.
We know that sometimes God’s grace is more abundant than at
other times. In regard to sin, Paul says, “Where sin abounded, grace did much
more abound” (Romans 5:20). This was Paul’s testimony. When God saved him, “the
grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant” (I Timothy 1:14).
God’s grace also varies in enabling our ministry. Again,
incredible grace was bestowed on Paul for the ministry that God led him into. “But
by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me
was not in vain” (I Corinthians 15:10). Our gifts are varied, both in number
and in kind, but they are all enabled by the grace of God. “As every man hath
received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards
of the manifold grace of God” (I Peter 4:10). “But unto every one of us is
given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” (Ephesians 4:7). The
bestowing of grace is individually determined and personally apportioned by
God.
In some ways, Caleb and Ciara’s story leaves me puzzled. Why
is God giving them so much grace? I suppose part of the answer lies in the fact
that their need is so great. I think it is also because those who yield (humble
themselves) much under God’s plan, as their situation has required, receive
much grace. Perhaps it is because so many people are praying for them. I think
it is also because of how God intends to use them in the situation, and He
knows they need a lot of grace.
To be honest, my puzzle is not so much about them as it is
about me. What I really want to know is why I don’t sense such dramatic grace
in my own life. I’m very glad that I’m not in the overwhelmingly intense
situation that they are in, but I often feel overwhelmed in my more routine
struggle. I want to have the kind of testimony that they have: positive,
buoyant, joyful, uplifted. I want to be able to say, “There is no way to explain
the incomprehensible peace and joy and strength that I have except by God’s
grace.” Instead, I see quite a different picture in myself, like I have just
enough grace to barely hold on, and that while I may be enduring, I don’t have
the positive outlook and radiant testimony that I would like to have.
I share that personal insight in order to get to the verse
that God gave me as I sought the answer. “My grace is sufficient for thee” (II
Corinthians 12:9). This was God’s response to Paul regarding his thorn in the
flesh. What kind of grace did God give Paul? It doesn’t say “more,” “multiplied,”
“exceeding,” or “abundant.” It says “sufficient.” Enough. The root has the idea
of a barrier that is erected to ward off an attack. It isn’t a great offensive
victory, but a defensive survival.
The word is not used often in Scripture, but there are some
interesting occurrences. In the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, the wise
virgins could not give oil to the foolish, because the amount of oil was not “enough”
for all. When the soldiers questioned John the Baptist about what their behavior
should be, he told them not to extort extra money but to be “content” with
their wages. In the feeding of the 5000, Philip refers to an amount of bread
that would not be “sufficient” for each person to partake even a tiny bit. Paul
admonishes Timothy to be “content” with the bare necessities of food and
clothing. None of these express extravagance or abundance; they express a bare
minimum. Enough to suffice. Enough of a barrier to keep the attacker from
breaking through.
In fact, what was Paul’s experience when God told him that
His grace was sufficient? He was so buffeted by Satan that he had repeatedly sought
relief from God. Paul was aware of his infirmity. He describes himself as weak
(feeble, sick, impotent). This is not the only time Paul reveals such a broken
state. “Troubled, … perplexed, … cast down” (II Corinthians 4:8-9). “In necessities,
in distresses” (II Corinthians 6:4). “Weariness and painfulness, … watchings, …
hunger and thirst, … cold and nakedness” (II Corinthians 11:27). Based on
these, I’m not sure that Paul always felt like he had abundant grace by which
to thrive within his difficulties. But he had enough grace. Sufficient grace,
so that he was not destroyed, not hopeless, not despairing. Would it have been
easier with more grace? Of course. But could he continue to do what God had for
him with the amount of grace that God gave? Yes.
Why does God give more grace to some than to others? I’ve
suggested some possibilities within the story above. But I think that the full
understanding of the answer lies with God alone. That is not always for us to
know. There are things we can know, however. “And giveth grace to the humble”
(I Peter 5:6). God does give grace. He gives it when we humble ourselves before
Him, admitting our weakness and yielding to His plan. “Let us therefore come
boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may … find grace to help in time of
need” (Hebrews 4:16). Our compassionate God knows our weakness, and He gives
grace when we ask for it in our time of need. It might not be abundant grace in
our eyes, but it will always be enough.
I was challenged with what my response should be when I
think I should be getting more grace than it seems like God is giving. I need
to trust that what God gives is enough to keep me from being crushed or
destroyed. I need to trust that what He gives is enough for me to do all that
He has chosen for me to do and to endure all that He has chosen for me to
endure. I need to submit to His discretionary allotment; I don’t have to have exceedingly
abundant grace that buoys me above comprehension, but just enough to keep
following Him. I need to humbly seek Him for the provision. I need to thank Him
for past and present grace that has, in fact, always been sufficient.
“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in
Christ Jesus” (II Timothy 2:1). Whether abundant or enough, God’s grace will
carry you through.
Love in Christ,
Peggy Holt
member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA
Archived letters: www.dearmissionarylady.blogspot.com.
