“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’” 2 Corinthians 12:8-9 (NIV)
What do you do when you can’t fix an unfixable problem or change an unchangeable circumstance? What do you do when you can’t control something that hurts deeply in your life?
You throw yourself on the sustaining grace of God.
To get the kind of grace you need to keep going in spite of temptations, trials, tension, tiredness, and troubles, you need to do four things:
1. Cry out for God’s help. When you pretend to be self-sufficient, you short-circuit God’s power in your life. You need to admit your inadequacy and say, “God, I can’t handle this!” The Bible says, “‘God is against the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.’ So give yourselves completely to God . . . Come near to God, and God will come near to you”(James 4:6-8 NCV).
2. Fill your mind with God’s Word. Study the Bible every day of your life, and let it comfort you, strengthen you, and energize you to keep going. The psalmist prayed, “I lie in the dust; revive me by your word” (Psalm 119:25 NLT). If the solution were to look within yourself, you’d already be changed. You need to look to God! He’s the only one with sustaining grace.
3. Accept support from God’s people. The Bible says by helping each other with our troubles, we obey the law of Christ, which is, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” God never meant for you to go through life on your own. He says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9 NIV). Our weaknesses help us realize how much we need God’s grace and each other.
4. Hold on to God’s promises. There are more than 5,000 promises for you in the Bible. Here’s one of them: “He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired . . . but those who hope in the LORDwill renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:29-31 NIV). Keep your eyes focused on the hope of heaven, not just on the here and now.
God’s sustaining grace is always available to you. When you’re going through a problem you can’t fix, don’t give up. Just look up!
PLAY today’s audio teaching from Pastor Rick
Rick Warren is an innovative pastor, renowned author, and global influencer known for founding Saddleback Church, the Purpose Driven Network, the PEACE Plan, and Hope for Mental Health. He has written several best-selling books, including The Purpose Driven Life, which has sold over 35 million copies in 200 languages. Time magazine named Warren the most influential spiritual leader in America and one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Since stepping down from the lead pastor role at Saddleback in 2022, Warren has continued to inspire people through his Daily Hope Devotional and podcast Pastor Rick’s Daily Hope. His first book in a decade, Created to Dream, was released in April 2023.
For more Daily Hope with Rick Warren, please visit pastorrick.com!
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This devotional © 2018 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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