Sufficient Grace for Suffering Saints: 40 Day Devotional

By Marsha Iddings

Sufficient Grace for Suffering Saints: 40 Day Devotional

Sufficient Grace Publishing

Clarkston, Washington

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture references are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Published by Sufficient Grace Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-387-00641-0

Printed by Lulu

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Printed in the United States of America

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author.

Marsha Iddings

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Dedication

Dedicated to my dear husband who I love and my children whom God has blessed us with.

I would like to thank my dad for his example as a writer.

I am grateful for the ministry of Port Cities

Reformed Baptist Church of Lewiston, Idaho for teaching me so much about God’s sufficient grace.

I am thankful to God for His grace, mercy and love. He alone is to be praised.

About the Author

Marsha has an Associate of Arts Degree in Theology from Western Baptist College (now Corban University), Salem, OR. She has been married for 34 years (2017) to her husband Rick and has a son and a daughter. She has been a home school mom since the children were old enough for school and has graduated both of them from high school. She was a devotional writer for Beyond Surviving Home School, a web support group for moms with chronic illnesses for many years. She has been blessed with opportunities for spiritual growth through dealing with her own physical challenges of osteoporosis, chronic pain, and gluten intolerance as well as the health challenges of her son and husband. She lives in Eastern Washington with her family.

Introduction

In my journey through affliction, God has given me much comfort and encouragement. He is still teaching me and changing me through difficult circumstances and changes in my life. When I started writing this book, I was thinking in terms of coping with what God has allowed into my life. However, God has changed my perspective from merely coping with things to embracing the changes in my life. The difference is this: When I merely cope with what is happening, it is all on the physical level, my own sheer will power to manage. However, when I embrace the changes that have come, I go beyond what I see to the unseen through faith and draw on the strength God offers me. I see affliction and change in my life as an opportunity for growth instead of something to simply cope with. It is my prayer as you read these meditations that you will realize you are not alone on this journey and that you will be inspired to embrace the changes that affliction has brought to your life. I pray that you will see that God’s grace is sufficient in the midst of suffering.

Genesis 41:52 For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.

This devotional is not intended to take the place of daily Bible reading and prayer. It is only a supplement. Please read your Bible first and if you have time after that, read in this devotional. Nothing should take the place of God’s Word.

Marsha Iddings

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40 Days of Devotional Thoughts

Day 1: Remember God’s Purpose for Things We Can Not Change

Genesis 30:1 And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

We all get discouraged at times. This is when we need to step back, and take a hard look at what is causing us to be discouraged.

In the verse above we see that Rachel became discouraged because she was resenting a situation that she had no power to change. She envied her sister's ability to bare children.

I think about how often I have found myself in a circumstance where I have no power to change what is happening. I have been in Rachel’s situation where I was unable to have children for a period of eight years. I became very discouraged during that time, but as I began to learn to trust God with it, I see that it was for my spiritual good. I learned to find fulfillment in God instead of motherhood.

Perhaps you are in a difficult situation in your life right now. Something that we need to do in these circumstances is to figure out what is changeable and what is not. What can you do about the situation? What is not changeable? Do what you can do to make things better, but realize God is allowing these things you can’t change in your life for His good purposes. Trust Him with those things and rest in His Providence, knowing that He has your spiritual good in mind as well as the good of those around you who are watching.

Day 2: Remember God's Resources When Faced With Giants

Numbers 13:33-14:1 And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. And all the congregation lifted up their voice, and cried; and the people wept that night.

Did you notice what the people said?

"We were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight." The children of Israel were looking at their own resources compared to the giants of the land and they became discouraged. They forgot to take into account God's resources.

Do you have "giants" in your land that threaten you with ruin? Perhaps your giants come in the form of illness, fatigue, bills, parenting difficulties, home school difficulties, or some other form. Whatever overwhelms you could be considered your "giants". These things make you feel small and inadequate. When you look at your resources compared to these giants, it's easy to get discouraged.

The giants I deal with revolve around the mental health of family members, financial concerns, launching young adult family members, and keeping up with extra responsibilities. When I compare my strength and resources to the possible demands of these things it seems like more than I can handle. However, God’s resources to meet these giants are more than adequate.

We need to remember to take into account God's resources when we are faced with giants in our lives. We need to keep our eyes focused on God's resources and power or we will get discouraged.

Day 3: Remember God’s Provision and Promises

Numbers 21:4-5 And they journeyed from mount Hor by the way of the Red sea, to compass the land of Edom: and the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way. And the people spake against God, and against Moses, Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread.

Here we see the Children of Israel becoming discouraged because the way was difficult. They have forgotten God's promises to provide for them and to bring them into the Promised Land. They have also forgotten how God provided for them in the past. He parted the Red Sea for them. He drowned the pursuing Egyptians in the Red Sea. He provided water from the rock and manna and quail to eat.

When I get discouraged I have usually forgotten how God has provided for me in the past. I have also forgotten His promises to care for me now and in the future.

Matthew 6:30-32 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

Sometimes I am dissatisfied with how He is taking care of me in the present, because it's not how I expected to be taken care of. Many times God provides what I need but not what I want. I think this was the problem with the Children of Israel. They got what they needed but not what they wanted and they became discouraged.

When discouragement sets in, look back and see how God has provided for you in the past, then look forward into His Word and rest in God's promises for the future.

Day 4: Remember God’s Character and Attributes

1 Samuel 30:6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

David became discouraged because those he cared about rejected him, turned against him and talked of stoning him. He talks about an experience like this in the Psalms. “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.” (Psalm 41:9) Have you ever experienced misunderstanding or rejection from those you care about? It’s not a fun place to be and it can cause great pain and discouragement.

The good news is that David didn’t let that discouragement keep him down. The Scripture says he encouraged himself in the Lord his God. We see evidence of this all through the Psalms.

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. Psalm 42:5, 7-8

David focused on God’s lovingkindness here and throughout the Psalms we see him focusing on the character of God in times of discouragement.

As you read your Bible make a list of the references that show God’s attributes and character. I have about three pages of them in my journal and find it a great encouragement to read through these when I am struggling with discouragement. I’ve learned that no matter how bad my circumstances are God is still good because He does not change.

Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Malachi 3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob not are not consumed.

Encourage yourself in the Lord today. Start that journal listing God’s attributes and character so you will have it ready when you need it.

Day 5: Remember to Wait on the Lord's Timing

1 Kings 19:2-4 Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time. And when he saw that, he arose, and went for his life, and came to Beersheba, which belongeth to Judah, and left his servant there. But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

We see Elijah running for his life into the wilderness. There is no indication that God had told him to run. Elijah was physically and emotionally exhausted and it seems he made the decision based on how he felt. He became so discouraged he asked God to take his life.

When you find yourself discouraged, see if maybe you are physically and emotionally exhausted for some reason. What stresses are happening in your life that may be contributing to your burn-out? Is there something you can do to ease the stress? We find that God allowed Elijah to rest and then encouraged him to eat and drink some water.

1 Kings 19:5-6 And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. And he looked, and, behold, there was a cake baken on the coals, and a cruse of water at his head. And he did eat and drink, and laid him down again.

It is important during times of stress and discouragement that we make sure we get adequate rest, nourishment and water.

It was fear and discouragement that sent Elijah running for his life to the wilderness. We need to be sure that we are not making major decisions based on fear, doubt or discouragement. It is important that we wait on the Lord's timing.

Day 6: Remember God is Good and Right

Job 10:1, 3 My soul is weary of my life; I will leave my complaint upon myself; I will speak in the bitterness of my soul. Is it good unto thee that thou shouldest oppress, that thou shouldest despise the work of thine hands, and shine upon the counsel of the wicked?

When we think of the trials that Job had to endure, we can scarcely blame him for getting discouraged. But as we look at his complaint, we see a hint of reasoning that God is not fair in what He is allowing Job to go through.

I know I have felt like this at times and I suspect there are times when all of us have felt that way to some degree, but have not verbalized it. When we think that God is not being fair with us, we doubt his goodness and righteousness. The Bible says that God is good and righteous.

Nahum 1:7 The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him.

Psalm 145:17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.

Regardless of how the circumstance seems to us, to fight discouragement, we must trust that God is good and right. We may not understand it this side of heaven, but one day it will all be clear to us. “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)

Day 7: Remember that Set-Backs are God's Opportunities

Nehemiah 2:2-3 Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid, and said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchers, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?