On my front porch rocker one morning,  with coffee in hand, trying to sort out situations that were weighing heavy on my heart —

Sometimes  you feel the weight of the world on your shoulders and the “world” eclipses the Son from shining into your own soul.  I’m praying and waiting on God to help me with this weight I need to lay down.  Still no answer.  Getting up to go inside for a refill on my coffee, the Holy Spirit began singing to “refill” my soul with His truth … “He giveth more grace when the burden grows greater.”   Oh yes !  I know that song from my childhood …”He Giveth more Grace”.  You’re singing that song!  Who knows what Annie Johnson Flint was going through when she penned the words  to this song 20 years before I was even born but I can tell you this …God knew me before I came into this world and He orchestrates and weaves truth and hope and answers before I even came into being !

More grace …He gives MORE grace !  How on earth can Jesus give MORE grace when, with thorns, He has grace written all over His face and with nails,  His hands and feet were  carved deep as He gave  His life for me! I’m overwhelmed at the thought and I can’t even quite wrap my mind around such an enormous amount.  David Crowder says in one of his songs , “If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking,” but if God gives more grace then that must mean the ocean is overflowing its banks all the way over to my little front porch !

My weight is picked up in the flow of His mercy and grace and carried along down the river to God’s throne where all of life can surely be sorted out !   Burdens are almost weightless in the water, you know.  Technically, my burden  may have the same weight and heaviness of heart but when carried along in the ocean of His grace, it lifts and floats and my heart lifts too.

There’s nothing beyond His view — this vast ocean we all feel we’re lost in …far from shore and drifting out into the unknown  — He sees us there .  He’s well aware of how desperate we feel and how much water our little boat is taking on.  Oh,  but it’s His grace we’re floating in all along …not the sea of trouble!  His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me!  He sees every angle — every corner — every storm brewing — every tsunami about to erupt !

In these moments of , “God , please help us because we have never been this way before,”  He hears us.  He knows exactly what is needed and chances are, He’s already answered our prayer before we’ve even asked ! I didn’t even make that up — it’s right in His letters to us! (Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.Isaiah 65:24)

I pick up my coffee and the weight of all my burdens and carry them to the piano and lift up this song to God and as I sing , my burden seems lighter — my load easier.  My head is lifting and hope is rising.  He said all these things would happen if I’d just come to Him .  I just needed a little reminder.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.    Matthew 11:28

And I sang with the Holy Spirit these words…

He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.

He gives and gives and gives again …out of His riches that never run out !  I’m often spent from worrying and anxiety and yet He promises He’ll keep giving and giving more grace and even more grace.  How can that even be possible and yet this is one ocean I’ve got to just surrender to and allow the Holy Spirit to carry me along as I float in His grace !  I’ve reached the end of my “hoarded resources”  —   security,  human wisdom and planning,  understanding , finances , emotional strength.  It’s time to let the “Father’s full giving”  begin !

I don’t know what tomorrow may bring but I do know He’s already been there and He’s just waiting for me to come to Him and rest my case!

A song spanning  71 years to encourage my heart and lift my load lets me know  His grace and love  is unlimited;  His timing  impeccable !