Grace For The Moment

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4:16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Sometimes I get ahead of God. When I’m waiting for God to speak, for him to show me the answer, a direction to go, a conversation to have...and that answer doesn't come when I want it to, I start trying to find the answers on my own.

And when I try to come up with answers on my own I only have what I can imagine to work with. And what I can imagine is limited to things that are possible here in the natural world but God works outside of the physics of my world, He lives in a reality where nothing is impossible. The way God will answer is of course, far beyond what I can imagine.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,” ‭
Ephesians‬ ‭3:20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So you can see why this process can be dangerous. When I try to get a head start and begin processing through all the ways He might answer then start working out solutions for those possible scenarios for things he hasn't even spoken on yet, the "solutions" I come up with will always disappoint. Whatever the situation is, God's answer will always be better than mine. For the record, I have never come even close to figuring out how it's actually going to work out and I'm always grateful that it didn't go any of the ways I thought it might. Never the less...I still struggle with this. I like to plan and overthinking is my specialty 🙈

Recently, I found myself going through this cycle with a particular situation that I had been waiting a long time for God to answer. Posing questions to God then answering them in my own voice based on my very limited understanding and as a result, I would feel a little lost, confused, and frustrated. In each case, every time I would start the wheels in my brain spinning I felt like God kept whispering to me “grace for the moment.” Over and over again I heard this phrase and it got my attention.

He was trying to tell me that when I get His answer I will also receive his grace. I don't need to anticipate His answer and work it all out ahead of time. If it's not what I wanted it to be or is a difficult revelation I will have the grace to walk in it then...not now. When I start trying to process something long before he’s spoken I’m operating in my own strength and that will always leave out options that could totally change the situation.

So What is grace?

“The divine influence which operates in humans to regenerate and sanctify, to inspire virtuous impulses,
and to impart strength to endure trial and resist temptation“ (Wikipedia)

“Refers primarily to enabling power and spiritual healing offered through the mercy and love of Jesus Christ“ Mark Batterson

Grace is a gift from God, it is what restores us, heals us, and strengthens us. Grace is God's mercy on us when things are hard and his blessing over us in those same seasons. This is supernatural strength.

When He whispered this phrase, "grace for the moment" he was reminding me that he will go before me, he will be there in that situation when I get there. He’s saying that "when I speak, when I give you the answer, regardless of what it is, you will also be given the grace to walk through it. You will have exactly as much grace as you need the second you need it."

“...and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
Hebrews 4:16b

I know this is hard for all my over-thinkers out there. Our brains don't always know how not to solve problems but it's important that you work to stop this process and let God speak to every situation. It’s important to remind yourself that you do not have all the answers. Of course we all know this but we often require reminding 😉.

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” - Isaiah‬ ‭55:8-9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Thank goodness.

God is working out ALL things for our good...ALL THINGS! In each season He has the wisdom, knowledge, grace, mercy, revelation, direction...whatever that season requires he has the tool you need right when you need it. Don’t go ahead of him. Don’t try to manage situations, people, feelings without the right tools. Wait for him, let him guide and equip you for all that is coming and you will not only get through it but you will see your faith grow and the faith of those around you.

What situation are you currently trying to figure out by yourself? Can you give it to God today?

What situation do you need God's grace to cover? Ask Him.

Prayer:

Thank you Jesus that you don’t leave me in these places where I spin around trying to figure everything out but rather you gently guide me to your truth, where I can find true rest in knowing how absolutely good you are. How completely you love me. How perfect your plans are for my life, far better than I could ever ask of imagine.

Lord, help me to hear you more clearly and recognize you at work in every moment of every day. Thank you for all the moments you’ve designed for me to walk in, may I do it fully aware of your presence with me and trust that you will provide.

I know that this day has all that I need and you have already planned for tomorrow. You have readied the tools I will need to succeed each day. Thank you for your grace that saves and heals and strengthens me. In Jesus name, Amen