04062024 Four Words

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God of love. God has given us so many assurances in His Word to remind us of His love and care for us.

A few months ago I was reading a book in which one of the characters was struggling with the death of her child. She was staggered and overwhelmed as she went through the grieving process. Finally, she settled on a practice that became an inspiration to me. She chose a phrase from a Bible verse, and that phrase became her anchor. Whenever she had a thought or feeling that was troubling, she would try to remember to follow that thought or feeling with her Bible verse. Sometimes she couldn't make it for more than a minute without having to return to that anchor. That verse may have alternated as every other thought she had, but in time the repetition of God's truth brought healing and stability.

I decided to follow the same practice. I didn't actually use a Bible verse, but rather I used a summarized paraphrase. Just by chance, my phrase consisted of four simple words: “His grace is sufficient.” I like having four simple words, because that is manageable for me. Even when my mind is occupied with tasks at work, I can manage to remember and repeat four words. Even when my mind is exhausted and incapable of deep meditation, I can remember and repeat four words. Four words is barely more than a breath. I can repeat those words once whenever I find myself struggling, or I can repeat them over and over, reinforcing them until something else requires my focus. Those four words adequately fill any lapse of time, from the very shortest to something more extended. Four words that become very familiar can even co-exist with whatever life events and thoughts are currently dominant.

I have found two specific criteria for choosing helpful phrases. One of those is to repeat the truth that is most difficult for me to believe. In fact, that was the reason for my first choice, “His grace is sufficient.” If something in God's Word doesn't seem true, but I know it is true, and I must believe it as true, then frequent reminders of that truth are necessary. It may seem like a difficult phrase to repeat, but it is a necessary phrase that I must drill into my heart and mind.

The second application is to repeat a truth that is most precious to me. This week I chose the phrase, “He cares for you.” This one is also just four words, but they are four words that are immensely meaningful and comforting. If I only have time for four words, then it is helpful to have four words that really, really matter.

While there is nothing magic about using exactly four words, it made me think of how many such phrases I could come up with that would be helpful to use depending on one’s current need. These phrases cannot be empty platitudes, like “Everything will be fine” or “You can do this.” No, they must be based on Scripture. Here is just a brief listing of four-word phrases that could be very helpful.

“His grace is sufficient” (2 Corinthians 12:9)

“He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7)

“All things for good” (Romans 8:28)

“Power belongs to God” (Psalm 62:11)

“He knows my path” (Job 23:10)

“Come boldly for grace” (Hebrews 4:16)

“He'll never leave me” Hebrews 13:5)

“He won't forget me” (Isaiah 49:15)

“He'll supply my needs” (Philippians 4:19)

“All things through Christ” (Philippians 4:13)

“He'll finish His work” (Philippians 1:6)

“Labor not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58)

“He’ll come for me” (John 14:3)

God's Word has the truth we need. Often the trouble is for us to remember that truth. I hope that someone will find this simple method of remembering truth to be a helpful tool. May God encourage and strengthen your heart as you labor for Him.

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA