How God’s Grace Is Enough

Maybe things were going well for you. No crisis. No conflicts to speak of. Pretty much smooth sailing.

Then seemingly out of nowhere, a storm hits. Maybe it’s a crisis, or a hardship. Maybe it’s a personal tragedy.

So what do you do when a hurricane-force storm hits and water is filling your boat?

Answer: You take heart—because you are not alone.

When Paul was at sea on his way to Rome and the mighty tempest hit him and the others on board, he was able to courageously encourage others. He told them, “But take courage! None of you will lose your lives, even though the ship will go down. For last night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve stood beside me” (Acts 27:22–23 NLT).

It has been said, “You can’t direct the wind, but you can adjust your sails.” And that’s exactly what Paul did, because he knew that God was with him.

God was with him

How was Paul able to be so confident?

God revealed to Paul something that nonbelievers did not know.

That is, God is able to take a situation of pain and hardship and use it as an opportunity for the gospel. He was conscious of the presence of God in the face of danger. He knew that God was there with him.

And God is with us in our storms as well. God will always give us what we need when we need it.

You remember that Paul had what he called his “thorn in the flesh,” which was presumably some kind of physical disability or illness. He asked the Lord three times to remove it (see 2 Corinthians 12).

God’s answer was, “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Sometimes the healing will come. And by all means pray for it; and pray for it more than once. Ask the Lord to touch you. Ask the Lord to heal you. But there are other times when He will say, “My grace is sufficient.” And instead of a healing He will personally be there in a unique and sufficient way.

It’s then you’ll find that God’s grace is enough.

Now it is the Lord

A. B. Simpson once wrote these words:

“Once it was the Blessing, now it is the Lord.

Once it was the Feeling, now it is His Word.

Once His Gifts I wanted, now the Giver alone.

Once I sought Healing, now Himself alone.”

God is with you right now, regardless of the storm or even the shipwreck. You may not hear an audible voice, but you may hear that “still small voice” of God’s Holy Spirit. Or He will speak to you through His Word.

Then you, like Paul, can reassure others that “the Lord is in control.”

Time and time again, God reminded Paul of His presence.

1. He was there when Paul was in jail in Jerusalem, as Jesus told him to “be courageous!” (Acts 23:11).

2. It happened in 2 Timothy 4:16–17 when Paul said, “All deserted me . . . but the Lord stood by me.”

3. And it happened here in Acts 27, in the midst of the storm.

When you get the diagnosis

You can take heart in the face of danger or uncertainty because you are aware of God’s presence with you.

God’s grace remains sufficient for you—even when things go wrong.

When your boss says, “I’m really sorry, but I’m going to have to let you go.” Or when the doctor says, “The test results are back and I need you to come in.” Or when you get the text that says, “There’s been an accident.”

Life is going to throw you some curve balls. Tragedy will come, and you might say, “I don’t get this. Everything was tracking along until this and I don’t get this at all.” You might even ask, “God why?”

Just remember this: You are not alone. The Lord is standing next to you. He cares. Jesus said, “Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20 NKJV).

No, it won’t always be smooth sailing. But you will have a safe arrival. And one day when we get to the other side we will say, “This is good. This is good.”