The Grace Gap

“With this in view, we constantly pray for you, that our God will count you worthy of your calling [to faith] and with [His] power fulfill every desire for goodness, and complete [your] every work of faith.” ~ 2 THESSALONIANS 1:11 AMP

You probably know that the Timberlake devotionals come from a group of volunteers (of people just like you) who want to share something that will encourage and motivate your heart, people who just as Pastor Ben said in this week’s message, want to Be a Difference Maker.

However, I have to admit that I wasn’t “feeling” very much like a Difference Maker today. Last week was really tough; life threw several curve balls at me, and so I wasn’t feeling “inspirational” today. I was trying to figure out how in the world I was going to write something for the devotional. That’s when I realized I was depending on the wrong person. I was trying to pull from my strength, insight, and knowledge and that’s also when I realized I needed to pray and asked for God’s grace to help me.

In conversations, I have heard people make comments about “if only” – if only their lives didn’t have the challenges, issues, and imperfections. If only they were more like the Pastors, worship leaders, key volunteers then they, too, might be able to make a difference in people’s lives! They would share like them, serve, give, and encourage others. If only…

There is a story of a woman having a conversation, trying to get her husband to go to church one Sunday morning. She is encouraging him to go and he is complaining, that he doesn’t want to go, doesn’t feel like it, and sometimes he gets his feelings hurt! She responds to her husband by saying, “I know sweetheart, but you’re the Pastor, you HAVE to go, you’re preaching!”

Yes, that was a joke – but there is an element of realness to it. Everyone I know that is breathing air and living this life has challenges, struggles, disappointments, hurts, and failures. EVERYONE. We all go through times we feel like “we’ve got this” and we’re OK, and we also go through times we feel like we’re just holding on and it’s in those times where God’s grace steps in to fill the gap.

Pastor Ben’s prayer this week resonated with me – when he said that there are those where life is looking a little murky, things aren’t clear, to hold on and God’s grace and mercy will meet us right where we are. So hold on, God doesn’t expect you to meet Him half way, just invite Him to meet you right where YOU are. He’ll be faithful to not only meet you, but also encourage you and continue the work He started in you.

Prayer: God I thank you that when I am weak, you are strong. That when I cannot see the good work you created in me, that you are unwavering and that when I cannot see where I should go from here, you have already paved the way. Help me to trust you, hold on to you, and believe that not only have you made a difference in my life – you’ve created me to make a difference in others. Thank you for your grace and mercy. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Timberlake Church One Million Reasons Daily Devotional
Missed a weekend message in the series? Catch up here.