Momentary Grace

God gives us grace for what we need at the time we need it. There are things I cannot do apart from the grace He supplies. 

When the apostle Paul begged God three times to remove a “thorn in his flesh,” whatever that was, God chose not to do that. Instead, He gave him a special promise. “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (II Corinthians 12:9). So Paul learned to appreciate his inadequacies, because through them it was obvious that God was the one who accomplished something positive. God got all of the glory.

When we lived in California I was doing lots of concerts by myself and had to drive alone. Now that’s something I never wanted to do. But when I needed to, God enabled me, by His grace, to accomplish the task and even enjoy it. I actually drove through Los Angeles by myself and didn’t get lost and I didn’t panic. Quite an accomplishment for me.

When my husband was on a church staff in Rhode Island, there was a need for a women’s Bible Study teacher. I had attempted that a few times in the past, but wasn’t very successful. Now I had a burden to minister in that calling, and God blessed and used me in a particular way not experienced before or since. What a joy!

Now I’m living in a unique time of life. I can’t do what I used to do. I’m sometimes haunted by wondering what the future will hold. I know I’m bound for Heaven, but this in between time, with its health challenges and mental and emotional stresses, is not easy.

I was blessed a few days ago by a devotional written by Christine Wyrtzen. Her closing statement was: “The past and the future are out of bounds. I’m not supposed to play God. He is the only one who operates outside of time. He equipped me to live today on the wings of momentary grace.”

Isn’t that a comforting thought? God gives us grace moment by moment. Are you living in that specialized, timely, individual provision of momentary grace?

“All By Grace” from “A Song of Love”