How God’s Grace is Enough in the Midst of the Unexpected

When the life you planned takes an unforeseen turn, are you filled with fear and left to wonder if you have what it takes to persevere? Perhaps you are in the middle of unanticipated circumstances, desperately trying to hang on. Do you know that God’s grace is enough in the midst of the unexpected? Discover how the Lord’s favor will help you move forward with strength and confidence.

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

(Hebrews 4:16 NIV)

First, We Must Understand God’s Grace

Recently I read When Strivings Cease by Ruth Chou Simmons, and it has sent me on a quest to understand God’s grace better. She inspired my thoughts below.

Are You Confused by God’s Grace?

The word’s meaning is much more than forgiveness of our sins or receiving the beautiful gift of salvation. True, both are lovely undeserved blessings Previously, I always stopped there in my understanding, not entirely taking in the full definition. Now, I find the meaning of God’s grace mysterious, big, all-encompassing, and challenging to explain. Yet, something I desperately need, especially when unanticipated circumstances arise. 

“It’s grace! It’s grace! God will take you where you haven’t chosen to go in order to produce in you what you could not achieve on your own. That’s glorious grace.”

—Paul David Tripp

Please share your thoughts in the comments on what grace means to you.

Why God’s Grace is Enough

Yes, God’s grace is generous undeserved favor, and desperately needed in the midst of the unexpected. We can try to go it alone, in our strength but why when the grace of God can help?  Click To Tweet

The Lord has an overflow of grace for believers to meet every circumstance or need we might have in our lives. However, one key ingredient is trusting He will provide even when the pain remains.

When We Are in Christ, God’s Grace will—

• strengthen us
• save us
• make us worthy
• guide us
• equip us
• prepare us
• surround us
• comfort us
• give us rest

And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.

(2 Corinthians 9:8)

What else would you add to the list?

We Don’t Deserve Grace

For those in Christ, we receive these gifts even though we don’t deserve them. How amazing is that? Although grace is accessible to us for free, it cost our Savior quite a lot. We don’t ever want to forget— 

“Grace is God’s best idea. His decision to ravage a people by love, to rescue passionately, and to restore justly – what rivals it? Of all his wondrous works, grace, in my estimation, is the magnum opus.”

—Max Lucado

Jesus Paid Dearly for Our Grace

“When we fail to see the great price of our rescue, we miss the wonder of God’s grace.”

—Ruth Choe Simmons 

We may nod our heads in agreement that God’s grace is free, and He paid dearly by His son’s life. We may even share these words with others. However, our actions may point in a different direction. 

When We Try To Pay Back Favor

Is it hard for you to accept a gift from someone without repaying them or offering some reciprocation? I remember once a wonderful woman did me a favor in a time of need. I thanked her profusely, then looked in her eye and said, “now, what can I do for you?” 

She looked back at me and said, “absolutely nothing—this favor was a gift for you.”

My uneasiness took over, and I began rattling off how I could assist her with something. Yet, she held her ground and added, “I have no doubt you will grace another with a blessing. We don’t have to make things even between us.” 

Baffled, I was left to accept the gift and sit with my uncomfortable feelings of not paying back the favor. Although I was grateful for the help, I missed the joy of receiving it because I used the world’s reciprocity standards and felt lacking. 

We Can’t Earn God’s Favor, But Sometimes We Try

God has been so gracious to me that I often fall into the trap of trying to pay Him back or earn His favor, which is impossible.

When we are in the mode of paying God back or earning favor, we miss receiving the full grace of God that we need, especially in the midst of the unexpected. It is like receiving a present and only peeking at the contents. We sometimes thrash around in our power instead of God’s strength, feeling unworthy to burden our Lord. 

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.

(Ephesians 2:8-9 NIV)

God Wants To Give Us His Grace

You are so loved, wanted, and desired. Yes, you are enough, and God wants to give you grace.

Have you ever had someone love you with pure unconditional love besides God? 

A Gift of Love

At the age of four, I traveled by plane with my big brother to visit my Grandparents for a month. At first, it was exciting, but then I found myself sneaking into my room to cry into my pillow so no one would see. I was ashamed and felt like a baby. 

But then my Auntie came to the rescue right smack dab in the middle of this trip; she whisked me off to spend a few days with her. Upon arrival at her house, she wiped my tears, validated my pain, and had me giggling within minutes. I was the well-loved, cherished, and adored princess at her home no matter what.

You Are Enough

Well, that feeling never dissipated as I grew older. Whenever we visited or had a conversation on the phone, my Auntie had a way about her that said, “I love you for who you are.” She made me feel adored and as though I was enough and mattered, and I never felt as if I had to earn or perform to receive her love. 

Even when I thought she might bat an eye over my child’s tattoo or frown upon an outfit that seemed a little improper to a conservative Auntie, she always surprised me with abundant acceptance. She always met my children and me right where we were and loved us regardless. 

Oh, how I miss her voice ringing out, “How’s my girl?” and that warm feeling that encompasses my soul at the sound of her words. After she went home to heaven, it became so clear. She was a gift from the Lord to help me see I was enough for her and the Lord, and I could sit still and be me. 

God loves us with a love that is hard to grasp and wants to grace us more than we can ever imagine. We can cease our striving to repay or earn our worth.  #grace #love Click To Tweet

God’s Grace is Enough in the Midst of the Unexpected

We must anchor to the Lord and rest assured God’s grace will be enough in the midst of the unexpected. After all, it is God’s fight, not ours; however, we must stop striving in our power and fix our eyes on Him while listening for His direction. After all, Jesus may ask us to pivot, rest, or forge forward.

Let us keep looking to Jesus. Our faith comes from Him and He is the One Who makes it perfect. He did not give up when He had to suffer shame and die on a cross. He knew of the joy that would be His later. Now He is sitting at the right side of God.

(Hebrews 12:2 NLV)

How has God’s grace been enough for you in the midst of the unexpected? Please let me know if you need an extra dose of God’s grace this week. I would be honored to pray for you.

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