Grace of God Strengthens YouSpeaker: Sis. Stella Dhinakaran Gist: When we place our complete faith and trust on God, He will grant us His abundant grace and make us overcome all our physical and spiritual ailments. His strength is made perfect in our weakness. Even the Lord's beloved apostle St.Paul became sad and depressed at times. When he carried his problems to the feet of God, he was encouraged with the assurance of the Lord's grace and the Lord said, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Accordingly, Lord Jesus filled him sufficiently with His divine grace. In the end, apostle Paul could even say with a greater enthusiasm, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing" (2 Timothy 4:7,8).
He was also a man who had much sorrow and sufferings like us. How much was he afflicted for the sake of Christ! If God's grace could carry him through till the end, should not we too trust His grace for our lives? So, do not be troubled over anything. As the Lord Jesus says, "Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?" (Matthew 6:27).
I received a letter from a sister who was about thirty years old. She had described her plight in great agony and tears in her letter, saying, "It is almost ten years since I got married. My husband does not like to go to church on Sundays. We led a very happy life. But now, so many problems and misunderstandings have cropped up making us miserable. The peace in the family is completely lost. I have lost my health and become very weak undergoing all the sufferings in loneliness."
Today, so many people worry themselves over the most trivial matters and live in fear and dismay. But our gracious and merciful Lord comforts us saying, "My beloved child, I will grant you the grace which I gave to my apostle Paul. Commit your problems and cares upon me, because I care for you. I will grant you the grace which you need. Only believe!" (1 Peter 5:7). He is waiting with His compassion which are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23).
"I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me." (Proverbs 8:17)
The Lord will surely listen to your earnest prayers and answer you. He will deliver you from all your weaknesses. He will fortify you with His divine strength.
I have had several pains and weaknesses in my body. There were times when I was anxious about where these pains and sufferings would lead me. For a person who desires to spend everyday in the Lord's presence, any ailment in the body will surely be an obstacle. But I would submit them all at the Lord's feet. The gracious Lord Jesus, whose name is 'Wonderful' (Isaiah 9:6), would make them all vanish miraculously.
In 1986, having lost our beloved daughter Angel, we decided to spend a quiet Christmas in the Andaman Islands without anyone's disturbance. When we set out, I was in normal health. When we landed, we were thrilled to see so many servants of God ministering in those Islands. They all showed us love and affection. They took us to their homes. Forgetting all our cares, sorrows, pain and sufferings, we spent those days happily with those children of God. One day, all of a sudden, I had a sprain in my hip. I was not able to walk or turn to the my side. The pain was severe and this caused so much concern and worry to all the members in my family. The day came for us to return back. I was greatly worried about the travel. My husband sent a message to the authorities in the airport to send a car right near the plane to take me home. Even while boarding the plane I experienced great difficulty to climb the steps. But at Chennai, as I got ready to get down, there was no sign of any pain in my body. I began to walk normally just like everybody else. At the airport, a wheel chair and an ambulance was kept ready for me. I was greatly puzzled and did not know what to do. Looking at me walk perfectly normal, the man who brought the wheelchair shouted, "Who is the patient here?" God had worked a miracle for me even while we were flying.
Dear friend, our gracious Lord is indeed so wonderful! When we trust Him and lean upon Him, He will grant us His abundant grace to overcome all the physical and spiritual weaknesses. He strengthens and supports us. Whatever may be your problem or whatever may be your weakness, do not be dismayed! Let all your thoughts be fixed on the Lord. Let us also say with the apostle Paul, "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me" (1 Corinthians 15:10). By deriving the divine strength which is given by the Lord Jesus Christ through His grace, let us distinguish ourselves as a means of blessings to others, to our dear ones and to God.
Prayer:
Loving Heavenly Father,
Grant me the grace not to become wearied when physical ailments trouble me. Let Your strength be made perfect in my weakness. Relieve me from all weakness and grant me good health and strength. Help me to grow in love and faith in You all the days of my life. Make me a living witness before others. In Jesus' matchless name, I pray.
Amen. |