Monday, June 14, 2010

His Grace is Sufficient - Excerpt from Bubble Bath Moments

Below is an excerpt from my book Bubble Bath Moments - a compilation of inspiring stories for women.  Please feel free to contact me at manthiehayes@yahoo.com if you would like to purchase a copy of the book.

Praying God warms your heart with His peace, joy and love today.

Manthie


His Grace is Sufficient


By: Manthie Hayes


“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. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10




In 2002 my mom was diagnosed with leukemia. If you or a family member has ever had an experience with cancer and chemotherapy you know how destructive the chemicals are to the body. Throughout the weeks of her treatment I watched as her body deteriorated from the medication. She had one complication after another, from staff infections in the port which was used to administer the medicine, to her body becoming septic and literally poisoning itself. It was incredibly hard to watch her go through that, and I can’t imagine what it was like for her. But it was during this time that I really got to see God’s lordship in her life. I remember one day in particular, she had been so sick all day from the treatments. She had nearly no strength at all and nothing they gave her seemed to help. Her phlebotomist came in to take her blood and asked how she was doing. With the most peaceful and joyful look on her face she said, “It hasn’t been an easy day, but isn’t God good!” I thought to myself, ‘How can she say that? I’ve seen what’s she’s gone through all day, and most people would be miserable and complaining (I know I probably would have), but she just says, “Isn’t God good?”’

That is one of the most vivid memories I have of my mom. She went to be with the Lord in October of that year, and since then when I think of her, that moments sticks out more than others, and has helped and inspired me when I was going through difficult times myself. You see, she was so covered in God’s grace, so comforted by His hand, and so confident in His love that she understood what the apostle Paul spoke about in 2 Corinthians 12. I’m sure her greatest desire was for the Lord to remove that thorn from her side, but regardless of her circumstances, she knew with her entire being that His grace was sufficient. I absolutely believe that my mom fulfilled her purpose in the hospital, and that when we all get to heaven there will be people there who were touched by how she lived her life those last few months, for without a doubt, His strength manifested in her weakness.

If you’re facing a difficult time, I encourage you to meditate on this verse. Allow the Lord to strengthen you and minister to you. Completely turn your situation over to Him and rest in the knowledge that His grace is sufficient. It will give you strength you never thought you could have, and you never know when someone’s life will be changed by witnessing Christ operating in you.



Father, thank you that your grace is sufficient. Help us to continually strive to enter that place in You, where Your comfort, grace and mercy overtakes anything we may be experiencing. In Jesus name, amen.



Additional scriptures:

Galatians 2:20; 1 Corinthians 16:23; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Ephesians 4:7

1 comments:

Jennifer said...

Hi Manthie! I met you at SCWC's. What an inspiring story about your mom. Thank you for sharing it with us. I'm sure that wasn't easy for you to do but I know others are encouraged by it. I lost my grandmother to cancer and know how hard it is to watch a loved one suffer.