03022024 How Much Grace?

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.