God’s Grace Turns Lack into Abundance

September 10, 2020 - LISTEN HERE

2 Corinthians 9:8 

King James: “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.”

Amplified: “And God is able to make every favor and earthly blessing come in abundance to you, so that under all circumstances, regardless of the need, you will have complete sufficiency in Him in everything you do and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity.

Grace comes from the Greek New Testament word charis, which means God's unmerited favor. Recall that Webster's New World College Dictionary provides a theological definition of grace:

"The unmerited love and favor of God toward human beings; divine influence acting in a person to make the person pure, morally strong; the condition of a person brought to God's favor through this influence; a special virtue, gift, or help given to a person by God."

Think about the dictionary definition of grace in relation to the stated verse. God’s grace is able to turn every good deed you do into "complete sufficiency." Sufficiency means that your needs are met. And remember that God promises in Philippians 4:9 that your needs will be met "according to His riches in Glory. Do that little task or that big activity in His name and watch His Grace will shine through.

But what about the times when bad things happen to good people? Here are a few examples, from BibleReasons.com, on how God’s grace can change our perspective, turning lemons – and challenging events – into lemonade, turning insufficiency (lack) into abundance: 

• “God why did I get into a car accident?” 

• By God’s grace, you’re still alive.

• “God I’ve been praying for an answer. Why is there no answer?”

• By God’s grace, the solution will be better than you’ve asked for.

• “God why didn’t I get that promotion?”

• By God’s grace, He has something much better in mind for you.

• “God why am I going through so much pain?”

• By God’s grace, we learn from both physical and emotional pain; He’s with you. 

Seeing God’s grace in everything is simply a matter of perspective. Will you see God’s love and how He is taking care of you in all situations even those you may perceive as “bad”? 

TODAY’S PRAYER

Dear Lord, by grace – the unconditional love from God – You know our deepest thoughts, our every secret, and You love us anyway. When we know You are by our side, it changes how we look at every situation. When we see our challenges through Your eyes, we have no fear. We know that our  Big Boulders are really only small inconveniences in Your eyes. 

Where we see lack, You see abundance. Where we see weakness, You see the opportunity to perfect Your power. Through Your free gift of unconditional love we call grace, You stand by us in out biggest celebrations and through our darkest hours. Dear Lord, help us to see all situations in our life through Your eyes. Help us to wait patiently – and expectantly – for the abundance You have prepared for us. We thank you. We love you. We ask for our lack today be great abundance tomorrow, through your Grace. In Jesus’s name. Amen.