Two-Letter Word With a Big Promise
“In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Ben Franklin
Those words are part of a letter Franklin wrote near the end of his life. In November 1789, he was corresponding with the French scientist Jean-Bapiste Le Roy, providing his friend with an update on young America. In that letter, Franklin wrote this – “Our Constitution is now established, everything seems to promise it will be durable; but, in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Later on, in that same letter, Franklin also lamented about his own failing health. He would die just six months later.
That “nothing is certain” adage, or some version of it, has been used over and over throughout the years. I am not here to debate the validity of that statement, but I trust you agree that in life not much is guaranteed.
The financial security you once had seems less secure coming out of the lengthy pandemic and now facing rising inflation and an unstable global economy. Your “till death do us part” marriage suddenly ends in divorce. The job you have had for a decade unexpectedly ends because your company “down scales” their operations. Your health has been good, only to see it all quickly change after a serious medical event. A lifelong friendship is ruptured over a seemingly meaningless disagreement. A loved one who you just talked to a few days ago is killed in a tragic accident. A dream you poured your heart and soul into for six years ends unfulfilled. You get the idea; here today, gone tomorrow, sometimes with advance notice, other times, out of the blue. (Click on the link to read a similar post.)
Today I want to look at a two-letter word that offers us a certainty that is here today and here tomorrow; a promise that withstands the test of time.
In the beginning verses of 2 Corinthians 12, Paul tells us that he has an affliction, the precise nature of it we do not know. Paul pleaded with God to have this affliction taken away, but his “thorn” remained. That takes us to these words we read in v.9 – “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.”
Notice what God says to Paul, and to us today – “My grace is sufficient for you.” Did you see that little two letter word? My grace IS sufficient for you. The Lord does not say, it might be, it could be, or maybe it will be. Instead, the Lord promises that His grace is, and always be will, sufficient for us. He is all we need as we walk through life, facing everything thrown our way. His grace has no limits, it has no measure, it simply “is sufficient.”
That little two-letter word is an unequivocal and unequaled guarantee, exceedingly more so than even death and taxes, that withstands the test of time.
So, my question isn’t whether you understand that truth, instead, my question is, do you, and will you, fully embrace that truth, and walk out your journey knowing and trusting that God is all you need? God’s ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9) and they often don’t make sense to our human minds. We are called to trust in the Lord and not rely on our own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Right now, no matter what your current circumstances, God says to you – “My grace is sufficient for you.”
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