This is the final week of a three-part series on worrying and the grace of God that will help us overcome it. Read Part 1 and Part 2.
A woman once excused neglecting a duty by saying, “I just did not have the grace.”
How often we answer conscience with the excuse, “I did not have the grace.”
Was it a lack of grace, or was it a lack or something else? Was the reason given just excuse? “I did not have grace” may mean only “I was not willing to do it.” If there is a lingering hesitancy to do a thing, that makes it doubly hard. To compel our reluctant selves to do what we know we ought to do is a difficult task. It is easy to excuse inaction as lack of grace, when often we’ve never truly tried to do what we do not want to do.
If there is something within us that says “I don’t want to do that” — then we can never say that we cannot do it for lack of grace. God gives grace only for what we are willing to do. We usually manage to do what we want — and excuse ourselves from what we don’t. If we make a habit of reluctancy and avoiding duty — it reveals itself in weakness and indecision. “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:8.
Sometimes we are willing and desirous that things be done — but we are not willing to make the necessary exertion to do them. We are prone to take the easy way and make excuses for not accomplishing more. The lazy man is inclined to say “I can’t” even when he feels that he could do it, if he would exert himself.
Half-hearted effort often fails. Unless we are determined, we may fall back on the excuse, “I did not have grace.”
Earnest, persistent effort is necessary. If we give up when we have only half tried, or have tried only a little while — the failure is not due to a lack of grace, but of persistence. A common proverb says that love covers a multitude of sins. It is likewise true that the excuse, “I did not have grace” covers a multitude of shortcomings.
Perhaps you really did lack grace. If so, why was the grace lacking? Sometimes the hindrance to grace is something troubling the conscience. Who could be strong, bold, and persistent, when his conscience is lashing him? If this is the reason for your lack of grace, go to God and get the matter settled with him. You must have a clear conscience, before you can be strong in the Lord and have his grace abounding in you.
Some lack grace, because they neglect to seek it, or because they seek it without faith. God promised us all the grace we need to live a victorious Christian life; and he will not fail to give us all we need in whatever circumstances may be placed or whatever work we may have to do. To ask for grace and not believe is to prevent the gift of it. Grace and faith work together; unbelief hinders both.
Grace is not intended to supply willingness, nor to take the place of earnestness and persistence and faith. Grace is meant to supplement these, and to make up what we lack when we have thrown our whole selves into the matter. God does not favor the lazy person by doing his work for him or by making accomplishment so easy that things can be done with little effort. Grace does not make things easy — it makes difficult things possible.
If God should by grace make all things easy — then what personal worth would our actions show? What we do is praiseworthy, only to the extent that we put effort into it. What is accomplished by grace, is no credit to us, but to Him who supplies the grace.
Since it is God who gives grace — when we excuse ourselves by saying we have not grace, we actually throw the blame on God. But he has said, “My grace is sufficient.” If you do not have grace, seek it persistently and in faith, then act as the you had it. You will find that when you put forth an effort, grace will be given. Do not wait to feel that you have grace, or you may never act. Grace is often given in the moment it’s needed.
“Let us therefore come boldly unto throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16)
Charles Wesley Naylor is considered one of the most prolific and inspiring songwriters of the Church of God. He was bedridden for much of his adult life but wrote eight books, a newspaper column and more than 150 songs. Many of his writings are in the public domain.
