Sufficient Grace
A devotional by Mirachelle Canada
“Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:16 (ESV)
Growing up in church, I often heard a song by Don Moen called “Jehovah Jireh.”
In Hebrew the title means “My Provider.” It comes from Genesis 22, where Abraham took his son Isaac to be sacrificed on the altar, but God provided a ram instead because of Abraham’s faithfulness. According to Genesis 22:14 (KJV): “And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah Jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the Lord it shall be seen.”
Loosely translated, “God provides and sees everything.”
Lately, amid the current troubled times, I’ve been focusing on how God always provides. But it is the second verse in Moen’s song “Jehovah Jireh” that has been on repeat in my mind. The verse says, “His grace is sufficient for me.” I asked God why it was ruminating in my spirit, and He led me to recall a time when I had a personal “all is lost” moment.
It was the day of a mandatory teaching methodology class during my final semester in college. The final assignment was a 25-page paper and to be handed in inside of a red folder. So, when I walked into the class and saw red folders on everyone’s desk, I panicked. I hadn’t even started researching my paper! As a theatre major, I had been performing several nights, which had consumed me both mentally and physically. Without that paper I would not pass the class, which meant I would not be licensed as a teacher after graduation.
I quickly left the classroom and located the course instructor. He was formerly a Marine, strict to follow the rules, and the rule for a late paper meant you had to get a doctor’s note to receive a C passing grade. As I fumbled for words, he turned to me and said, “Miss Canada, you look sick today.” I started to reply, and he repeated himself. In a rare, contrary moment, he showed me mercy and I left without questioning it.
I had a solution, but I wasn’t sick, and the school clinic wasn’t giving out sick notes without symptoms. For three hours, I agonized and prayed to God over what to do, and by the time I arrived at an off-campus clinic, I was running a fever, congested, and had swollen eyes. I felt the clouds of heaven part when the clinic nurse handed me a sick note.
Now, please understand that I don’t condone lying or fraudulent cases. Yet, when I found myself in a dire, life-altering event (that I had gotten myself into) God showed me a level of grace to remind me of Hebrews 4:16 (ESV), “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” And though He is “Jehovah Jireh” it is His grace that will meet all our needs, as God says in 2 Corinthians 12:9a (ESV), “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Rest assured, the next day I locked myself in the 24-hour campus library until my paper was done to excellence, and I still received that circled “C” with a “well done” on the title page with thanks and praise to God because His Grace will always be more than enough for me.
Are you in need of God’s grace today? Let us pray together: “Dear God, you know and see my struggle today. I need your grace that is sufficient for my weakness. Thank you for always providing for and meeting my needs, and for your loving mercy as I lay this burden down at your feet. In Jesus’s Name I pray, Amen.”
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Author Bio:
She earned her Master of Fine Arts in Script & Screenwriting from Regent University and is an alumnus of Act One: Hollywood Film & Television Writing Program.
Mirachelle is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, American Fiction Writers Virginia Chapter, The Jerry Jenkins Writers Guild, and Your Novel Blueprint.
She is currently working on her first historical fiction novel set during WWII.
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Connect with Mirachelle:
Website: www.mirachellecanada.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mirachellecanada/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/miracan
I really needed this today my most wonderful mother in law passed Tues night after a sudden stoke and although I didn't see her much when we did see each other she gave the best hugs. She knew when I married her son 18 yrs ago and moved from my family in Ca to Iowa I had made a big decision and that I had been battling a disease that has taken my body so she would always ask on the phone how i was doing she was so caring and I will miss her dearly all week there have been times during the day I ask for the lord to be with her and I just cry for long periods thinking that she is there with the lord and I will never see her or talk to her. I didn't get to go to the hosp to say good by as with the virus my dr has me home and not to go anywhere so my husband went and told her . Just a tough week for me my husband has just kind of said oh well she had her favorites which is terrible she was his mom. I thank you so very much this was perfect. peggy clayton
ReplyDeleteDear Peggy,
ReplyDeleteI am so glad my message of God's grace was able to help you today. I know how hard it is to weather the storm and find hope when you are in it, so I pray you encounter His peace right now and that you come through this trial very soon to be met on the other side and welcomed into His abundant love and all sufficient grace.