Digging for Grace

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Let’s use this acronym to remember the definition of Grace: 

God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense or. . . 

GRACE!

Have you ever been casually and comfortably walking the narrow path of God’s will when encountering a mudslide whooshing down the hill? You must stop doing good work because of the obstacle, or even worse, you’re swept off the path into confusing oblivion.

What just happened? Why did God allow this? Where is divine help? Why doesn’t the Spirit bring deliverance?

We are stuck or trapped and must now dig for grace. The Apostle Paul encountered a mudslide. . .  

A thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited (2 Corinthians 12:7, ESV).

How did Paul respond? He prayed.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me (2 Corinthians 12:8).

We have the Apostle Paul, a man of faith and author of many books in the New Testament, who wrote about Jesus in Ephesians 3:20, “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly beyond what we ask or imagine,” asking God for a specific request. 

Not once, but three times. Certainly, the heavens opened with a thousand warriors offering to vanquish Paul’s thorn.

But the prayer isn’t answered, and Paul — the great Apostle Paul — must dig for grace.

God said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Sometimes, our victory isn’t confined to what we think best. God knows something that we don’t, and we can either develop corroding doubt about the goodness of God or dig for grace.

That’s what Paul did. . .  

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10).

I wish that I followed the example of Paul more often. 

I don’t dig willingly or easily. Usually, I entreat God more than three times, write an Interruption to help me process, talk to my wife, and talk to anyone I find at Panera®. 

Because I want God’s riches without cost or expense on my part.

Fortunately, I find God being patient and continuing His offer of grace despite my obstinacy, and I settle down and start digging, breaking through, and finding Jesus.

Then I experience peace or God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense!