PUBLISHER’S NOTE: I’m excited to note that this is the 100th post on www.livinggracefully.net. Thank you to all of you who have supported and read this blog. I hope and pray there are many more days to come. Hopefully with a little more consistency our 200th post is not too far off. – Chris Faddis, Author/Publisher

Sometimes the weight of our responsibilities and sphere’s of influence can crush us. No matter how talented we are, no matter how brilliant we are at what we do, no matter how resilient we are to trials – we simply are not strong enough on our own to manage the weight of all that we are responsible to do in our lives.

Yet, God has given us everything we need to live fruitful lives… “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Cor. 12:9

I speak these words, “My grace is sufficient for you…” because I know them to be true. In my heart of hearts I know that despite all of my failings God’s grace is enough. Yet, in the thick of things I find myself often in despair – realizing that I am not enough. That I am ultimately weak. In so many ways trials and struggles lead to feelings of failure and inadequacy. While I know these words to be true  - I struggle to stop and rely on God’s grace.

Stopping and relying on God’s grace is exactly what you and I need to do day after day. It is not our strengths but our weakness that allows us to rely on God’s grace. In this reliance on God’s grace we will find that our strengths (power) will be made perfect. Often times we will feel as though his Grace is not getting us through – as if it is not sufficient. We will often find ourselves saying things like “I thought God’s grace was sufficient, how come I am in such despair.”

This is the moment when we need to stop and turn that question back on ourselves, “Have I sought to receive this Grace that is available to me?”

If you find yourself overwhelmed by life’s burdens. If you find yourself feeling as though you are not strong enough to handle what is thrown at you,  if you find that you are relying on yourself and not on God – it is time to stop and pray and give in to his grace.

Ask yourself – am I praying enough? Do I need to go to Mass more to receive the strength I need through the Sacrament? Do I need to go to reconciliation and receive the healing grace of God’s love? Do I need to commit to a devotion (i.e. the Rosary, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, a Novena, or others)?

His Grace is always sufficient and it is always available. If his grace is not sufficient for you or I – it is not a lack on his part for he has already poured out his grace in advance of every need. It is a lack of our own reliance and reception of that Grace which is indeed sufficient.

Allow God’s grace to transform you, to work in and through you, to perfect your weakness.

“So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Cor. 12: 9 – 10

For more on this topic check out this week’s “Theology Lived” question here: “How has Grace been sufficient for you?”

Tweet This Post

Related posts:

1. Conversion This afternoon I was listening to Matt Maher’s new song,...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.