6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6-7
Tuesday I quoted from Lynn Twist about our sense of scarcity. Well she says we have this nagging sense of not-enough-ness: I didn’t get enough sleep; I don’t have enough time; I’m not smart enough, tall enough, pretty enough…She says, “sufficiency…is a context we generate.”
As Christians, we live in a strange story of sufficiency that overflows in surplus. This is such a simple verse – and short enough to keep the whole thing in my head at one time: “But he gives more grace.” Don’t pass over it. Stop and chew on that. Put it in your mouth like a piece of Juicy Fruit that explodes into flavor. Unlike the gum, the words leave a lingering joy:
“BUT HE GIVES MORE GRACE.”
Where are you not-enough today? What do you have not-enough of? How will you pray? Will you pray that God gives you enough? Will you remember that God’s grace is sufficient? Indeed it is sufficient, but it is also surpassing. There’s a surplus of it. Let us not forget it. (Sorry if I’m coming on strong. I’m preaching to myself:)
I was going to quote John Stott on this, but I’ll save that for tomorrow. A vignette just came to mind. How might this look in my life today? I’m headed out on a road trip with my 17-year-old daughter later. I’m not strong enough to lift my suitcase into the car without feeling some retributive pain later. MORE GRACE in this circumstance could look many ways, but since God is as efficient as He is sufficient, I imagine asking for MORE GRACE is as simple as asking my daughter to put my suitcase in the vehicle. Not rocket science for most of you, but for one who’s lived my life being SELF-sufficient, to ask is a surrender to my weakness made perfect in God’s strength through my healthy daughter.
What about you? Where will you ask for and look for God to “give you more grace” today?
