Sufficient Grace

In life, we will all experience times when we become burdened or overloaded by numerous or difficult circumstances. Sometimes, those circumstances are small and brief, like preparing for your campus Science Fair while launching a new side business and helping your kids plan school projects. Other times, it is one large event that knocks us to the ground and shakes us to the core, like the death of a loved one.

Three and a half years ago, my Mom passed away. The months that followed were busy as I helped my Dad. I sort of became his personal assistant. I made phone calls for him, helped him clean out his home and helped with home repairs as he prepared to sell his house. Right in the middle of this busyness, we started the new school year. My daughter was in her last year of elementary and my son was two years behind her. At the time, I tutored two classes. To say life was hectic would be an understatement.

Running on fumes and still grieving the loss of my mom, I gave everything I had to my family and to my other responsibilities, with one exception. My children’s school at home lacked the attention I felt it should have had. Though they didn’t stop school all together, I believed I was not fulfilling my part as their teacher. I was physically and mentally unable to do any other kind of school with them, especially any type of conversation. Of course, this added guilt to my already crushing grief and concerns for my dad.

During this time, my family adopted a saying to help us cope with what was going on: “It is what it is.” What we meant by this is: this is the situation, we can’t do anything to change it, so deal with it.” Sometimes I didn’t deal with it as well as I should have as I wanted to quit everything and curl up in a ball in bed, with the covers over my head. One day, the Holy Spirit reminded me that my situation did not suddenly surprise the Lord. He knew what was happening, before it even happened. He would provide for those areas that were lacking because His “grace was sufficient for me and His strength was perfected in my weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9).

I also realized that my self-inflicted guilt didn’t help me one bit at all, it only made me feel worse. I decided to let the guilt go. I realized if my kids were behind, I could use the summer to catch them up in their studies, which is one of the many blessings of homeschooling. It was such a relief to be rid of the nagging guilt. It allowed me to focus on what I truly needed to focus on – processing my grief, helping my dad, and finding rest.

I take my calling as a homeschooling mom seriously, as I’m sure you take whatever your calling is seriously as well. So, when I’m not doing what I need to do regarding teaching my kids, I feel the guilt. I believe I’m letting them down and honestly, disappointing God. But that train of thought is wrong. Romans 8:1 tells us there is “no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” Again, His grace is sufficient for us. If God, our creator, can give us grace, why can’t we show ourselves grace? Now, I’m not saying this to give you an excuse to let everything slide, but when you are experiencing a time in your life where the circumstances are more than you can handle, then show yourself grace. Chances are, if you are feeling guilt because you are not accomplishing your to-do list, then you are the one who set those parameters on yourself, because, again, there is no condemnation in Christ. Let go of the guilt and let God handle your circumstances.

When those times in life where our circumstances completely overwhelm us and knock us to the ground, we need to recognize it did not come as a surprise to the LORD. He has not been knocked down to the ground. He is still there, right by our side, picking us up and dusting us off. Take comfort knowing the “LORD goes before us. He will be with us; He will not leave us or forsake us. We should not fear or be dismayed.” (Deuteronomy 31:8)

He also lovingly invites us to find rest in Him. He knew tough times would overwhelm us, which is why He encourages us to rest. In Psalm 23, we see a picture of the LORD as the Good Shepherd. Verse 3 says “He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness.” How do we find rest when we feel the weight of the world on our shoulders? We find rest in Him by trusting Him. We find rest by praying and calling out to Him. In his book “Prayer,” Timothy Keller wrote “Through our petitions we receive peace and rest…petition is giving up control, a resting and trusting in God to care for our needs.” We can rest and trust in the LORD because we know He will provide for us and fill in the gaps. We know he will equip us to complete the tasks He has given us. We know His yoke is light compared to our burdens. This is how we find rest in Him.

I’m hoping you find freedom in what I’ve written. As I look back at that time in my life, I realize it was better for my children to see me show myself grace. I hope I was able to eventually show them how to grieve and that it was okay to take time out to grieve, rather than forcing a normal schedule during a time when life was anything but normal.

Finally, rest in the LORD knowing He will never leave your side. Trust in Him to provide for you and your needs. He knows what you are going through and has the perfect amount of grace to carry you through your circumstances, whatever they may be.