God's Grace

 

I recently started a Bible study called Grace in Chaos: Biblical Hope for the Hard Days of Motherhood. I’ve been at this motherhood gig for almost 20 years (yikes!) and no season is the same. There’s more chaos now than when the kids were little, eating chalk and marking on the walls with sharpies. Or maybe it’s just a heavier chaos as they reach/get closer to adulthood and we deal with heavier burdens like death, health issues, and brain injuries. This study is reminding me that in all seasons of motherhood (and just life in general), we have hope in the Gospel.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 says, “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

I should see each challenge, each difficulty, each time I want to scream and pull out my hair…as an opportunity to glorify Christ and His strength through my weakness. As this study points out, “There is HOPE for every difficult emotion in Christ! There is no part of your mothering that is beyond God’s reach.” The Gospel changes everything for motherhood (and all of life). “Because of the Gospel, we do not need to muster up enough goodwill or have enough ‘me time’ to love our children well. We can love our children out of the overflow of God’s love for us. We love others because God has loved us (I John 4:19).” 

Whatever the Lord has called you to, it has spiritual significance and therefore you will face spiritual battles. The consequences of the fall are very real, but the power of Christ’s work on the cross is also very real and far more powerful than the forces of darkness! On my most difficult days, navigating multiple doctor’s appointments, setbacks, work comp, hectic schedules, and the fear of what the future might look like for my family…I have to read 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 over and over again. His grace is enough. His power is made perfect when I am my weakest…then the power of Christ rests on me. So for His glory, I can be content with being weak, being insulted, enduring hardships and calamities. Not that I enjoy any of those things, but because of those things, the power of Christ can be revealed!

Take heart, whatever difficult season you may be in…God’s grace is enough. Saturate your heart and mind in His Word so you can be reminded every moment of every difficult day that He is your strength. 

One of my favorite hymns, Grace Greater Than Our Sin:

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!

Yonder on Calvary's mount out-poured–

There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Refrain:

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within;

Grace, grace, God's grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin!

Sin and despair, like the sea-waves cold,

Threaten the soul with infinite loss;

Grace that is greater– yes, grace untold–

Points to the Refuge, the mighty Cross.

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,

Freely bestowed on all who believe!

All who are longing to see His face,

Will you this moment His grace receive?