In the midst of great pain the Beloved spoke these words to the Apostle Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
Grace is always sufficient when crops are abundant and food is plentiful; when benefit-laden jobs can be had; when crushing illness and death’s visitation are distant and anonymous;
When pin-striped, silk-tied pirates no longer plunder tomorrow’s dreams; when young ones have all that is needed for healthy bodies and vigorous minds; and when old ones need not fear being burdensome or abandoned.
But can grace be sufficient when bones grow brittle or when wells run dry? When a good name’s belittled or when the battered ask why?
In what shall we boast when power unravels, when dreams go awry? When friends desert and shame draws nigh?
Sufficient the grace of the One who complies with promise-filled future for earth and for sky, with Heaven’s rejoinder to all heartache and sigh.
With power’s demise, when dominion forsakes, comes the grace that suffices and shelters and breaks every fear-mongering threat, every murderous quake.
From the shadows of misery, from agony and ache, comes the Voice of Remembrance to rouse and awake the Memory of Mercy, sufficient of grace to adorn every creature with Beauty’s embrace.
Bet your life on this warrant—God’s grace is sufficient—though fig tree be barren and vineyard be bare. Though harvest be meager and herds be exhausted, boast of the Strong One whose bounty is trusted!
Sweet the surrender to grace ever tender. Power perfected in violence unveiled. May grace be sufficient when life proves deficient, whatever befall both harvest and stall.
©Ken Sehested @ prayerandpolitiks.org. Inspired by Habakkuk 3:17-19 & 2 Corinthians 12:9-10.