Observation has been made that when bowing under the load of great burdens and pressures of life, American Christians tend to cry out, "Lord, please remove this burden from my back!" so that life can be easy again. On the other hand, multitudes of Christians from other parts of the world who endure a normal life of hardship, persecution and difficulties tend to simply request, "Lord, make my back strong enough to carry this load."
The life of ease that most of us live from the moment we are born naturally creates in us an expectancy that 'normal life' is living care-free and that Christians should expect God to remove pain and suffering...well, at least after a little while of endurance! But Paul was a great example of one whose upbringing was quite privileged, but who subsequently endured
troubles of all kinds, many of which were never removed from his
life until he reached heaven. He found that God's grace was sufficient
to strengthen him as he bore the load of difficulties that was
appointed for his life.
The grace that God offers any Christian today who is facing immovable
obstacles, enduring insufferable pain, dealing with unexplained
persecutions or repairing personal failures, is the same source of real
strength. It will enable even the most exhausted child of God to bear
loads of difficulties that would otherwise crush a grace-deprived
person with defeat.
Take hold of God's rich grace through prayer and appropriate its
efficacy by faith! Only then can any of us expect to have enough
strength to bear up under the weight of unforeseen, divinely appointed
circumstances that may befall us.
Article from:
Crosspurpose International
Please include this link within body of article if copying to another website or reprinting.
Are You Grace-Deprived or Grace-Rich?
by Paula Orr
Devotional Series
Christian rticles from Crosspurpose International
And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
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Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
II Cor. 12:9, 10
