"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9
Your probably asking, if you know me... “Why does he always post that statement?” What's the significance of "In The Grip of His Grace"? This being my first official blog post, I thought it would befitting me to address it. This statement serves as a reminder to me that every moment, everyday, every year, every opportunity, every accomplishment, everything I am and what I’m able to do in this life is allowed because of His - grace.
I‘d be misleading to let you think I created this statement. No, this one came from a dear friend of mine, spoken in the midst of the war ridden country of Afghanistan during a deployment. It was his response to a greeting he had received when someone asked him, “How is your day going?” - which at the time wasn’t the best of days; and I fell in love with it. So, with his permission and blessing, I’ve made it part of my identity. Why? Because it has been demonstrated so much in my life.
What is grace? Short answer, - receiving that which you don’t deserve. My life hasn’t been perfect. I’ve made so many mistakes, most I’m ashamed to mention. I’ve hurt people. I’ve let people down. I’ve let God down and to add fuel to the fire, I continually fall short daily. But yet and still he extends His “grace” to me each and every day.
Why the grip? Webster defines grip as, “to hold the interest of strongly. Gods grace has been so prevalent in my life that it has gripped my attention. So much so, that it has renewed my mindset about everything concerning life. I'm amazed daily at marvelous moments he allows to occur in my life. I'm sure you have this moments as well. You know, those moments when you’ve should been in that accident, but you wasn’t. You shouldn’t have got that promotion, but you did. Your marriage should of failed, but you have been longer than expected. Your child shouldn’t have made it, but they’re still here. All because he has you in His grip, and that should be enough to keep us all going.
The Apostle Paul experienced this same feeling in 2 Corinthians, chapter 12. He is crutched with what he identifies as a, “Thorn In His Flesh”. The bible doesn’t state what this thorn may have been, but scholars subscribe to some sort of sickness or illness.
The Bible does state that he asked not only once, but three times that this “thorn” be removed. It is here where Jesus gives the profound statement, “My grace is sufficient for you...”
Jesus is saying to Paul, I understand your pain, I understand your frustration, I understand your difficulty but my grace has made life manageable. How? Jesus tells his disciples in John 16:33b, “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
The very fact that Jesus Christ was born, lived with us, died for our sins, was buried and raised up on the third day, sitting at the right hand of the Father is all demonstration of God’s grace towards us. Because of the penalty of sin, we don’t deserve the lives we live but because of His grace, we’re kept or “gripped” in His loving hands. For that I’m thankful.
This is the grace that should keep us motivated when we want to quit. The grace that gives us strength when we’re weak. The grace that helps us put life in its proper perspective when things go awry.
Israel Houghton, a famous gospel artist penned a song titled “If Not for your Grace”. He opens up the song saying:
“Where would I be? If not for your grace, Carrying me In every season. Where would I be If not for your grace? You came to my rescue, And I want to thank you, For your grace.” “For your grace that restores, Grace that redeems, Grace that releases me to worship Grace that repairs visions and dreams, (Visions and dreams) Grace that releases miracles, Your grace”
Are you experiencing His grace?
Do you realize His grace?
Gods grace has restored us back into his presence. It has redeemed us from the grip of Satan and into the hands of our Savior. Lastly, it gives us an open invitation to worship and praise God for allowing us to live a life, full of His grace, in His will and for His glory.
It is my hope and prayer that you too are experiencing being “In the Grip of His grace.”
Dr. Stephone A. Berry is an Associate Minister at Christian Faith Fellowship in Columbia, South Carolina. He graduated with a Master of Divinity in Ministry Studies and earned a Doctorate of Ministerial Leadership from Columbia International University.