His Grace is Sufficient

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness"  --Jesus (2 Cor 12:9)

About a week ago, I woke up in the middle of the night with this terrible, helpless feeling that something was wrong.  I didn't know what it was, or who it was affecting in my life but all I could do was pray.   I didn't know if it was someone in my family, or Bryan's or a dear friend, but I spent about 5 minutes in sheer panic before I realized that I needed instead to lift these feelings up to the Maker of the Universe. 

My prayer went something like this, "God, HELP!  I don't know what is going on, but you do.  I am trusting that you do.  Please be with all that I love, and even those that I don't, that last part was honestly hard to say, but you know my heart, oh God."  I just repeated that for about 30 minutes or so before I fell back asleep.  I was afraid to wake up in the morning, only to find out nothing (that I know of) went wrong.

I have found comfort recently in this passage from Matt 11:28-30,  "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

I cannot tell you how many times I have heard this passage in my life: in sermons at church and in Sunday School, at weddings and other Bible studies, on T-shirts and pictures and many other places.  But in my sudden anxiety, this brought me a peace that surpasses all understanding. Over-whelming anxiety is something that is new to me.  I sure hope it doesn't become a habit.  I found that the two verses mentioned about have brought me peace, even when my yoke wasn't easy, His was. 

What verses do you find comforting?

I want to leave you with this:

"To you, O Lord, I life up my soul;

in you I trust, O my God.

Do not let me be put to shame,

nor let my enemies triumph over me.

No one whose hope is in you

will ever be put to shame,

but they will be put to shame

who are treacherous without excuse.

Show me your ways, O Lord,

teach me your paths;

guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my Savior,

and my hope is in you all day long.

Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love,

for they are from of old.

Remember not the sins of my youth

and my rebellious ways;

according to your love remember me,

for you are good, O Lord.

Good and upright is the Lord;
therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
He guides the humble in what is right
and teaches them his way.
 All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful
toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. 
For the sake of your name, Lord,
forgive my iniquity, though it is great. 

 Who, then, are those who fear the Lord?
He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.

They will spend their days in prosperity,
and their descendants will inherit the land.  
The Lord confides in those who fear him;
he makes his covenant known to them.
My eyes are ever on the Lord,
for only he will release my feet from the snare.

Turn to me and be gracious to me,
for I am lonely and afflicted.
Relieve the troubles of my heart
and free me from my anguish. 
Look on my affliction and my distress
and take away all my sins. 
See how numerous are my enemies
and how fiercely they hate me!

Guard my life and rescue me;
do not let me be put to shame,
for I take refuge in you.
May integrity and uprightness protect me,
because my hope, Lord, is in you.

Deliver Israel, O God,
from all their troubles!

Psalm 25