If we knew what life held for us some days, we wouldn’t get out of bed.
I’ve had days like that.
Four significant ones come to mind – days that altered the course of my life forever.
I didn’t see them coming. Some I was prepared to handle more than others, but nonetheless, they were days, in my very limited wisdom, that I would have rather skipped.
God, however, knew they were coming, and that I needed to walk through them. And in His infinite wisdom, He allowed me to wake up to the days I would hear:
My husband lost his job.
Our baby was born with a terminal genetic disorder.
My spinal cord was permanently damaged in a routine operation.
My elderly father was now my family’s sole responsibility.
These were some of the worst days of my life – days when tears of grief fell heavy like huge droplets of rain into puddles of muddied dreams.
The weight of these days almost melted my heart for fear.
Yet, these were the days I woke up to God’s grace poured out heavily upon me like Mary pouring perfume over the feet of Jesus – the Alabaster box of costly Nard just opened, the pungent fragrance escaping, drifting up, overpowering the senses.
On the days I could not lift my head, Jesus opened His Alabaster box of grace and poured it out over my life. And by the power of His Spirit, He sustained me in the midst of my deepest pain.
He sustained me with His grace.
Costly.
Heavy.
Anointed.
He will do the same for you.
None of us knows what tomorrow holds. We can fret and fume and fear or fantasize and fill our days with a thousand yearnings for some other day, but this is the only day we have to receive His grace.
It may not be a day we would choose – the circumstances, the trial. But it may be the very day God uses to usher in a whole lot of other grace-filled days when we experience His love and care poured out upon us like never before.
Even in the midst of our deepest heartache, we can bow low and worship at the Lord’s feet.
We can lift our cupped hands to receive His grace poured down from the throne of grace – grace sufficient for every need.
Costly.
Extravagant.
Overpoweringly more than we can contain.
Sit at His feet today, and let Him wash your soul in His grace.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9
Beautiful, amazing grace, awe-inspiring…
I know you’ve experienced that grace, too, Nancy.
Amen and Amen. Blessings to you, Jill!
My sweet friend Jill, so thankful I call you friend! You have learned wisdom by accepting what the Lord has given you. Wisdom and sweetness to share with others in your everyday life! We are blessed! I have called and you have turned my heart to the Father. You have allowed Him to teach you much! Love you, Linda
Jill~This is beautifully spoken. Your words were truth. I needed this…this very moment. I have tasted those tears…felt heavy words…it is a load for our spirit. Yet His Grace truly does sustain us. Where nothing else could even touch, He pours out His healing grace as a balm over our weakened spirit…strength rises…He commands it. We willingly surrender. Dear sister in the Lord…you bless me. Much love and prayers sent your way.
Thank you, Debbie. I am thankful that this touched your heart just now.
Bless you, sister.
Thank you, my dear Linda. You too have tasted of this grace sufficient for every need. Love you, dear friend!
Love you, Lynne. Oh, how you know the Lord’s grace poured out to meet your every need. Bless you, friend.
Jill, I doubt you’ll remember me, but years and years ago we corresponded via email after you found my old blog, Books and Bairns. We lost touch, but I found you again via Raising Homemakers some time ago and was delighted to be able to follow your exquisite writing again. I just wanted to reach out tonight and let you know how much your words have resonated with me over the years, and how much inspiration I have drawn from your gentle example. Thank you for being willing to share the gift the Lord had given to you with so many of us, touching our lives and giving us a richness that brings us closer to God. Blessings, Heather (aka, Mary Grace)
Heather,
Thank you for your much needed words of encouragement. I am finding it do hard to write lately due to the stress of caregiving, but I need to write to sort through it all. Thank you for reaching out to me just now. I am thankful that you blog and look forward to reading your writings as well. God bless you.
Jill