My Grace is Sufficient (Lent Series Part 3)

March 5 – Day 14 (Thursday) 

Reading:  ²² For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ²³ And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴ For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵ But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
–Romans 8:22-25

Reflection: Hope includes a recognition that things are not as they could or should be. Here lies the paradox, the tension between accepting that current circumstances are difficult and remaining hopeful that they can and even will get better. Paul here uses the image of pains and groaning like that of childbirth to make this point. No one or thing, not creation itself, or those who have the Holy Spirit are spared from this reality. Yet as followers of Jesus we remain hopeful, not in what we can see, but in our promised redemption and adoption as God’s children. When we are hugging our cactus and working through a crisis, we need that reminder to not give up hope, that things can get better, even if we can’t see it for ourselves. We also have the opportunity to encourage others to hold on to hope.  

Prayer: Jesus, you became a human and experienced first hand the pains and groans of childbirth that all creation is subject to. You did this so that I might live in hope, even in the most difficult circumstances. Help me to remember that my hope and even salvation is not based on what I can see, but instead holding on to your promises, amen. 

March 6 – Day 15 (Friday)

Reading: ¹¹ Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. ¹² Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
–Romans 12:11-12

Reflection: In these two short verses we get the interplay between a variety of virtues and how they all work together. First, we see that we need passion and enthusiasm (this word literally means having the inspiration of God within you). We use this fuel to serve God, not ourselves. We also need hope to fuel our everyday joy and patience to enable us to weather the difficult times of life (tribulations). Finally, all of this is bound together in constant prayer. By constant prayer we mean that prayer is throughout our day in short little reconnections with God.

Prayer: God, may your Spirit fuel my passion and deliver me from laziness. Grant me a firm hope that leads to joy, patience in trials. May my prayers be sprinkled throughout my day.

March 7 – Day 16 (Saturday)

Reading: ⁴ For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. ⁵ May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus.
¹³ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
–Romans 15:4-5,13

Reflection: Here Paul connects endurance with hope using the phrase, “the God of” in regards to bother. These are two important concepts that are closely connected in regards to working through a crisis, especially one that is self inflicted. When we are in the pit or in the midst of a difficult situation hope needs endurance to survive. For example the 12 Step journey accepts that transformation takes time, when one hits “rock bottom” there is no quick fix. Yet the God of hope and endurance encourages us with his Word, harmony with others in Jesus, and the power of the Holy Spirit. When we surrender to God he gives up not just hope that abounds, but also the encouragement we need to endure and to remain hopeful in the most difficult of circumstances.

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for your Word, which is written for my encouragement and endurance so that I may have hope. In times when I struggle to be full of joy and peace, I also ask you to give me the endurance to remain in hope, an endurance that comes only from your Holy Spirit. Help me to live in harmony with others, knowing that the journey of healing and transformation takes time. In the name of Jesus, amen. 

Week 3: Forgiveness – 2 Corinthians 2:1-11. Paul recognizes the restorative and comforting power of forgiveness. The need to forgive someone caught in the despair of their sin so that they may not be overwhelmed with sorrow. This includes the ability to both give and receive forgiveness, even forgiving the most difficult one to forgive yourself.  

March 9 – Day 17 (Monday)

Reading: ⁶ For such a one, this punishment by the majority is enough, ⁷ so you should rather turn to forgive and comfort him, or he may be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. ⁸ So I beg you to reaffirm your love for him.
–2 Corinthians 2:6-8

Reflection: Sometimes the weight of guilt for our sin is overwhelming and crushing. We need someone outside of ourselves, outside of the incessant negative voices in our heads to speak a better word of truth over us. Not only does Paul encourage us to encourage one another with forgiveness and comfort of the gospel, but also to remind and reaffirm our love for one another. More than anything, forgiveness enables us to be reaffirmed in the eternal and unquenchable flame of God’s love. We don’t have to worry about sin separating us from God’s love because God forgives all in Jesus’ name.

Prayer: Jesus, thank you for forgiving me and releasing me from the crushing weight of my sin and shame. Speak a better word over me through your Spirit and through my brothers and sisters in Christ. Remind me daily that your mercies are new each morning, ready to meet my fears and failures. May your forgiveness be like unwrapping the wonderful present of your boundless love and grace. May I stand secure in your love for me and may that always shape my identity and how I think of myself, amen.

March 10 – Day 18 (Tuesday)

Reading: ¹⁰ Anyone whom you forgive, I also forgive. Indeed, what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sake in the presence of Christ, ¹¹ so that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs.
–2 Corinthians 2:10-11

Reflection: Unresolved unforgiveness is like giving Satan the key to your heart and mind. Not only will the enemy start you down a downward spiral of anger, hostility and contempt, but you will also allow him to start to negatively effect others and your relationship with them—and things can spiral out of control so quickly, especially now that we live in a world with so many forms of instant communication. How many of us wish we could unsend an angry text or take back something we blurted out in the heat of the moment. Forgiveness is like bolt-cutters for your soul—they allow you to cut away the ugly thing chained to you by others that would become shackles of hate and resentment if you let it. Instead, when we follow the way of Jesus and forgive, we can live freer and fuller lives.

Prayer: God, grant me the courage to use the bolt-cutters of forgiveness on a regular basis. Remind me of how much you forgave me so that I can be more willing to forgive others. Deliver me from the schemes of the enemy so that unforgiveness does not fester in my soul, amen.