09122026 All Grace

Dear Missionary Lady,

Greetings in the name of the God of all grace. By His grace God supports us and enables us.

Last week I talked about how God often works by asking us to do small things – tiny steps of obedience that He transforms into great works. While that is true, it is also true that God sometimes asks us to do things that are bigger and more difficult.

Those big things can seem daunting to us. In fact, even enough little things can seem daunting, especially when we have to keep doing them over and over again or when we have too many of them. There are times when our bodies become weary. There are times when our emotions become stretched. There are times when our minds no longer want to think. There are times when we simply run out of time. We feel like we cannot do one more thing, or cannot do that task one more time. Ministry can be very draining.

Certainly there are times when it is appropriate to rest. God invented rest. My childhood pastor used to say that sometimes we need to “come apart” before we come apart! Jesus Himself knew the need for retreats.

At other times we need to push on even though we are weary. For such times, here is a verse that I can barely wrap my mind around. There are so many superlatives packed into it that comprehending it seems almost like trying to understand eternity or the Trinity.

“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” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

ALL grace … and it ABOUNDS. We can ALWAYS have ALL sufficiency for ALL things, and we can ABOUND to EVERY good work. So what do you think? Is there anything that God wants us to do that we can’t do?

It sure seems that way sometimes. We are weak and frail and limited. Without God we can do nothing. But with Him we can do all things. The key is His grace. Oh, how much we need His abundant grace!

How do we get the grace we need for the tasks that we cannot do without it? “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6). God gives grace to the humble. God gives grace when we come to Him, admitting that we can’t do it or be it, and asking for His help.

“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Oh, Father, I can’t do one more thing. One more day. One more person. One more time. I am too weary and too weak. Will You please give me Your grace so that I can do the next good work that You have put before me?

Oh, Father, will You bless my sisters who are serving You? Will You give them Your abundant grace to strengthen and enable them on the inside as well as on the outside, so that they can move forward in the work You have given them?

Love in Christ,

Peggy Holt

member at Open Door Baptist Church in Lebanon, PA