My compassionate doctor kindly encouraged me, “Give yourself grace.” Needing more rehab, more medication, more rest? Her words were God’s gift of grace, melting away a burden I’d been feeling.
“Give myself grace” when my body, mind, and spirit endure ongoing suffering.
As God continues His holistically healing work, He must have known I needed these words. Because my body, mind, and spirit…belong to Jesus Christ, all by our God’s wonderful grace!
A praise interruption began! I could hear the fun counter-melodies and clapping along in this song!
Wonderful grace of Jesus,
greater than all my sin;
how shall my tongue describe it,
where shall its praise begin?
(“Wonderful Grace of Jesus,” Lillenas, H., 1918)
He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities (Ps. 103:10 ESV).
Taking away my burden,
setting my spirit free;
for the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
Give yourself grace by remembering His past grace
My doctor continued. “Remember this time last year? Remember how very, very, very sick you were?”
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me (2 Cor. 12:9 ESV).
Wonderful the matchless grace of Jesus,
deeper than the mighty rolling sea;
Higher than the mountain, sparkling like a fountain,
all-sufficient grace for even me!
For even a sinner like me? As we all are? Amazing grace! Such kindness, love, and compassion toward me. I remembered His justifying grace, all of my sin (past, present, future) washed away in Christ’s completely satisfying God, taking every bit of what I deserve for my sin.
As far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us (Ps. 103:12 ESV).
broader than the scope of my transgressions,
greater far than all my sin and shame!
I may be suffering on earth. And my sin nature of self-focused pride and unbelief still wages war inside, but God’s promised grace in my ongoing humbled need for His help…is unending!
O magnify the precious name of Jesus,
praise his name!
Give yourself grace by remembering who you are, one being sanctified in God’s ongoing grace
Wonderful grace of Jesus,
reaching a mighty host…
He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me (Ps. 18:19 ESV).
by it I have been pardoned,
saved to the uttermost!
All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out (Jn. 6:37 ESV).
Chains have been torn asunder,
giving me liberty!
Little children, you are from God
and have overcome them,
for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 Jn. 4:4 ESV).
For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me!
God is giving others grace…of Jesus
Wonderful grace of Jesus,
reaching the most defiled…
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast (Eph. 2:8-9 ESV).
by its transforming power,
making him God’s dear child!
So, as we suffer, let’s ask our gracious God to help us give others…the wonderful grace…of Jesus
But one thing I do:
forgetting what lies behind
and straining forward to what lies ahead,
I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:13-14 ESV)…
purchasing peace and heaven,
for all eternity;
and the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.
Lord, as we suffer, please help us receive your gift of grace anew so that we even CAN give ourselves (and others) grace. Help us bring every single hurt to You for Your tender, kind, and compassionate healing. This suffering is so hard, so endurance is only possible by Your grace. Our need for Your grace is continual as You grow and strengthen us, humbly trusting in Jesus and pressing forward daily…
I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord.
In Jesus Christ’s name of grace upon grace, amen.
A playlist to remind us of God’s wonderful gift of grace…of Jesus
Every difficult day, I must humbly remember His grace and ask Him to help me give grace (to myself and others), by simply receiving His glorious gospel of grace anew. What a released burden when we come to God’s throne of grace! I’ve made a playlist to help me do this, on the hardest days. If this might bless you, too, I share it with love. Just sign up below, and it will come to your email. Or perhaps other resources will be His gift as you suffer?
May grace and peace be multiplied to you (1 Pet. 1:2 ESV).
To hear Scripture devotional with calming hymn playing, click here for YouTube podcast.
A music therapy-inspired podcast of Scripture and music to ease symptoms of chronic illness and pain
Devotional Bible study prayer journals as we suffer. Click for details.
