“He giveth and giveth and giveth again.”
Words I still hear in my mind from a cassette tape many years ago. Darlene Rose, a missionary in Papua New Guinea during and after WWII, suffered in a Japanese prison camp for four years and lived to testify of the power of God’s grace. Through torture, death threats, and her husband’s death in another prison, Darlene continued to place all her hope in Jesus. He was the Grace-Giver she constantly cried out to. And He repeatedly reminded her that His grace is sufficient. Not was. Not will be. But IS.
Through all our troubles in life, whatever they may be, we need and have the same Grace-Giver. When we’re sinking in the midst of troubles and losses, we can’t always see God in them. But often in hindsight, we can see He gives and gives and gives again. Far above what we ask or think, His limitless grace sustains us and makes it possible for us to survive.
A couple of weeks ago, triggered emotions of pain and betrayal ran deep and threatened to drown me.
I longed to walk in God’s creation, a place of rest God has often used to comfort me and remind me He is Almighty and still in control, but the air was too cold for me. Then God gave us a warmer day and I headed to one of my favorite areas on the bike trail.
As I walked, I asked God for a deer, but I quickly withdrew my request – “I’m so sorry, God, if I’m being unthankful. You already showed me a butterfly. Thank You!”
Several steps further, my heart stilled in awe. A deer! Thank You, Lord!
Jets thundered overhead, and she gracefully leaped over the brush into the safety of the woods nearby.
My heart, too, was longing for refuge from the thunder of my emotions. Oh, how I ached to leap into God’s arms.
I headed over the bridge and sat down on a bench and begged God to bring truth to light and to take my fear away. This heart-wrenching fear for victims of abuse.
“I am the Truth… I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” He whispered. He assured me that if I open my heart to be filled by Him who is Truth, I need not fear what happens. I just need to listen for the voice of Truth Himself who has the power to reach every single person in this world.
The lyrics of a song by Casting Crowns began to play in my heart and continued often through the coming days:
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
And the voice of truth says, “Do not be afraid!”
And the voice of truth says, “This is for My glory…”
Victims all over this world are silenced and not believed, afraid and devastated beyond what many can ever understand. But God who is Truth Himself remains and knows what’s true. He cares and understands us more than anyone ever will. He sees every single tear that falls, and He cries with us.
His unlimited grace pours out to hurting souls. This moment. Right now. No matter what we have lost. No matter how dark and lonely we feel. No matter what anyone thinks or says of us.
We may not always feel like His grace reaches us, but often in hindsight we see His steps of grace all along the way. Lighting our way in the dark, carrying us when we are too weak to walk on, and breathing hope into us when we feel like giving up.
Yes, the Grace-Giver gives and gives and gives again. He invites us to tap into His powerful love that heals us. And even when we waver and doubt, He still keeps giving us His strength to keep going. His grace IS sufficient. Not was. Not will be. But IS.
“But He said to me,
‘My grace is sufficient for you,
for My power is made perfect in weakness.'”
2 Corinthians 12:9
“Jesus answered,
‘I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me.'”
John 14:6
“Then you will know the truth,
and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:32
“Voice of Truth”
by Casting Crowns
Freed to Fly 
Thank you for uplifting my heart this morning! This is a beautiful post, your words, pics, and song. Thank you again. 🍁
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I’m so grateful your heart is uplifted this morning, Lisa Beth. I just read your last post. How very sad! I hope you got to keep your home and street. May we look unto Him who is totally in control, Him who looks out for our good even when we can’t always see it!
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Amen! Thanks Trudy!
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👍🏼❤️🙏🏼
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Trudy, your reflection here filled me with peace and joy. Yes, God’s grace is always sufficient for us, and He stands at the ready to meet our needs and give us comfort in His presence. And what a glorious miracle He sent to you by way of that deer! Glad you could snap some photos of this elegant creature. God is good, all the time.
Blessings, my friend!
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I’m so grateful you are filled with peace and joy, Martha. Yes, that deer was a glorious miracle. 🙂 So many times God gives far beyond what we ask or think, doesn’t He? Yes, God is good, all the time! Blessings to you, too. May we cling to and rest in His goodness and never-failing grace!
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Dear Trudy,
Thank you so much for sharing from your vulnerable heart, and bringing such encouragement. I am so thankful that Jesus continues to give and give and give to us, no matter how many times the waves stir up fear in us. “His grace IS sufficient. Not was. Not will be. But IS.” I am clinging to His sufficiency today also. And, in the midst of the sufficiency then he sends us gifts! What a beautiful deer. Blessings, love and prayers for you Dear Sister.
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Yes, He keeps on giving no matter how many times the waves stir up fear in us! I’m clinging to His sufficiency with you, Bettie. How that deer appeared on the lawn where I’ve never seen one before still awes me. It shows me how willing God is to give us beyond what we ask, think, or deserve. Blessings, love, and prayers to you, too! May we keep clinging to our Grace-Giver who will always give us what we need and then some!
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Thank you for this. God’s grace astounds me daily. I’m moved by your writing. I am sharing this post with a student who is hurting. She needs these words and I’m grateful God used you to provide them. More grace.
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This brings tears to my eyes, Chandra Lynn. Thank you for your kind words. I pray God will give hope and healing to this student’s hurting heart. It astounds me, too, how our Grace-Giver keeps giving us more and more grace. May we cling to Him and rest in knowing His grace is sufficient always, even when we cannot see it!
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Yes, I shared your words and my student was so grateful. I just wish she didn’t have to go through so much right now, but she’ll get through, as long as she continues to abide under His wings. Thanks, again, for sharing your light.
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I wish she didn’t have to go through so much either, Chandra. 😦 What a comforting thought to abide under His wings! I pray it for her and for all of us!
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Oh, that deer! So dear! And shows God’s love for His precious daughter. Never, ever forgotten. Hugs my friend.
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I can’t express in words what your comment did for my heart, Lynn. I viewed the deer as a precious gift from God that He is always with me in spite of my doubts and fears, but the thought of it showing “God’s love for His precious daughter” touches me deeply. I often forget I am His precious daughter. Thank you so much! Hugs to you, too! May we daily see ourselves through His eyes as precious daughters!
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Dear Trudy, thank you for these encouraging words! I was particularly touched by the thought of God “Lighting our way in the dark, carrying us when we are too weak to walk on, and breathing hope into us when we feel like giving up.” In a week where voices of despair and discouragement have caused a lot of emotional pain, I really appreciate the reminder to choose to ignore them and listen to “the voice of Truth” instead. I was also greatly blessed by the way God proved He was listening to you and demonstated His eagerness to offer you such swift and visible evidence of His love for you. What a lovely memory for you to look back on! Heartwarming indeed. Blessings, love and hugs! xo 💜
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I’m so grateful God encouraged and blessed you, Joy. Those voices of despair and discouragement can shout so loudly, can’t they? Yes, God truly is eager to offer visible evidence of His love for us. Sometimes I fail to open my heart to those evidences and I can be so doubting. God’s unconditional love is so amazing! Blessings, love, and hugs to you, too! May we allow the voice of Truth to embrace our sinking hearts!
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Awww, Trudy. I love how God answers your prayers. For Him to show you that deer, and to not see that request as ungrateful but as a reminder of His love for you is beautiful.
I kept thinking about God being the grace-giver, and it reminded me of a word picture a woman once shared: God’s grace is like a shower. It’s always there to sprinkle over us, to cleanse us, to strengthen us. It’s never something God turns off.
What you said about “He assured me that if I open my heart to be filled by Him who is Truth, I need not fear what happens.” resonated with me. I need to remember to be filled with God who is Truth. And that song by Casting Crowns? Has been playing in my head all week long. 🙂
Sending you love and hugs, friend!
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I love that word picture, Jeanne! Thank you for sharing it. It’s such a comfort that God never turns off His grace. But often I resist stepping into His shower that He longs to pour into and over us. I, too, need to remember daily to be filled with God who is Truth. Sending love and hugs to you, too! May we open our hearts more and more to be filled with God who is Truth!
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“Thunder of emotions”… I feel that way often! Your beautiful writing reminded me to find that “place of rest”. Thank you for the reminder… I’m not alone! ❤
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I’m so sorry you often deal with the thunder of emotions, Jennifer. They can be so persistent, can’t they? No, you’re not alone! May we daily flee to rest and safety in Jesus!
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God is a grace-giver and your story is a beautiful example of how much He loves all of us. Love the pictures! What a beautiful capture of the deer. Thank you for this offering today.
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Thank you, Mary. It still warms my heart how God sent that deer. 🙂 His love and grace are so amazing and beyond our comprehension, aren’t they? May we grow to be more like Him!
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I’m so glad He gives so freely! Sometimes I wonder why He said, “My grace is sufficient for you,” when it is so abundant that He could have said, “My grace is overflowing for you.”
I mean, look at that deer sighting; He didn’t have to do that, but His grace!… Beautiful pics, by the way to help you remember that grace! You could make a grace collage with them and put them in a place in your house where you will see them often!
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Yes, Ruth, His grace truly is overflowing. He gives us beyond what we can ever ask or think, doesn’t He? What a beautiful idea about a grace collage! I always feel like my pics aren’t good enough to put up, but I should look more at the memory of grace in them, right? May His grace keep flowing within us and over our lives!
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Yes, He does! Yes, you should! Your pics are great! God orchestrated it all so you could be reminded of His grace! ❤
Amen!
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❤️Thank you for your kindness, Ruth!
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