I was chatting with a life-long friend today and what joy it was to catch up with her and each other’s lives. It is so easy for the dailiness of life to keep us from sitting and visiting for a spell. Usually what binds us together with friends is commonality — faith, family life, and many other things that fill us and shape who we are and how we bond relationships.
Some of those things that bind me with my friend are first and foremost our faith in Christ Jesus, but then we both have one child and both boys. We’ve each only been married once and have had beautiful marriages with Godly men. We love music and crafts and French Country decor — the list goes on. Yet, in the commonality, we’ve both had to walk parallel, but different paths.
Our sons, though raised similarly, have chosen different paths — one in Christ and the other away from Christ. About ten years ago, she buried her dear husband…a grief that weighs still so heavily over her soul. She is now alone — her son is not very attentive — friends have come and gone — well, for her life has been “unfair” it seems. Is that true? I don’t think so and this is why!
In Romans 12:3, Paul tells us:
For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith.
Commentator, F. B. Myers said, “that God deals out according to the measure of our faith. Let us ask that it may be “pressed down and running over.” To me, this means that my friend was given God’s best for her. He, in His merciful sovereignty, gave her the burden and load she must carry. It is not unfair or unkind because all throughout Scripture we are reminded of His provision and His grace to help us bear our burdens. Jesus said in Matthew:
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. “For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
Nowhere have I found in Scripture that says we will not have trials and burdens or that we would not be laden down with them. Instead, we are promised that “His grace is sufficient” to help us bear them. Paul reminds us of this and through his own trial:
“And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
How can one be content with weaknesses and insults and grief or children not walking according to God’s Word?? Paul told us, “It is for Christ’s sake.” It’s not for our sake or to make us appear better than we are…It is for Christ’s sake. It is for God’s glory and His alone. We can boast in these weaknesses because of Christ!
Sufficiency in Christ Jesus — isn’t it so daily? Each day is given to us by Him and for Him — He is sufficient for our every need. Some days that is harder and some days it is not, but every day that we rely on His sufficiency and His grace — when we take His yoke upon us and learn from Him, Jesus said that “you will find rest.” That, my friend, is a promise with certainty! Jesus didn’t say you might find it, He said, “YOU WILL FIND IT.”
My friend will most likely awake tomorrow, Lord willing, and find her heart grieving and her home loudly quiet. God, in His rich mercy and love for her, has given her that portion. He loves her and His grace is sufficient for her and it is sufficient for you and it is sufficient for me. Rest in that sufficiency today and do it to the glory of God.
Azalea Trees and Tea Rooms 