My Grace is Sufficient for You: When the Climb Feels Impossible
Next week I’m going to Maine to visit my sister. While I’m always trying to trick, ahem, encourage her to move back to the Midwest, I can’t complain about having an excuse to visit the beautiful state of Maine so often.
One of my favorite memories is a hike we took together a few years ago. She was two months postpartum and was feeling bouncy and confident about us tackling a two mile incline with her toddler and infant.
She had her baby strapped to her chest in a carrier and the plan was “if needed” I would put the two-year-old on my back and carry her up. About 5 minutes into the hike, my sweet niece’s chubby toddler legs gave out and into the backpack she went.
(“Into the backpack” makes it seem much easier than the process actually was. There was sweating, tears, laughing, hoisting, almost tipping over, and more laughing.)
Once she was secured we continued our ascent–stepping over stumps, scrambling up some rocks, and keeping up with the trail’s switchbacks.
My midwestern legs were not prepared. Let me be the first to tell you that mountains are steep! Climbing one with a 30 pound toddler on your back is no joke. Especially when your regular walks barely have hills.
About three quarters of the way up I was cooked.
“I. Can’t. Do. This.” I panted to my sister as we paused. My chest was pounding, my legs ached, and my lungs gasped for air. I wanted to quit and start walking back down to the car.
“No! We can do this! You’ve got this.” my sister told me. My niece took up the chant: “Go! Aunt! Katie! Go! Aunt! Katie!”
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I honestly didn’t think I could go on, but I also didn’t quit. And waiting at the end was a glorious view–mountains spread out with scented pines and a valley with a gorgeous azure blue lake sparkling below us.
How did we do it? Two overly-ambitious women with two little ones depending on us? One foot in front of the other–a single step at a time. Isn’t that just like faith? We make it through steep climbs not in giant leaps, but by trusting God for the very next step.
When we feel like we are at the end of ourselves, it’s there God’s grace picks us up and keeps us moving forward.
“My grace is sufficient for you,
for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
-2 Corinthians 12:9
I don’t know what you’re up against today. You may be facing some really tall mountains. The load you’re carrying may feel like too much for you. God in you is making you stronger than you could ever be on your own. He is lifting your foot and setting it on firm ground. He is going before you on the path. He is never leaving your side.
The Message rephrases this familiar passage this way.
So I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees…
My grace is enough; it’s all you need.
My strength comes into its own in your weakness.-2 Corinthians 12:7-9
Whether you are hiking a mountain in Maine with a toddler strapped to your back or convincing your child to poop on the potty or battling an exhausting diagnosis or getting your kids back into school routines or going to therapy for the first time–you’re right–this is too much for you to do alone.
God wants to show off how strong He is in whatever you are going through. It’s not about us powering through or being spiritual giants or super-moms. It’s about all those gaps, all those areas of weakness being places where God and His loving favor for us can show up.
May you hear the cheers of the saints who’ve gone before cheering you on as you walk your road with Jesus. May you trust His leading–even if the path is steep and your burden is heavy. Though you may long for flatter ground, may you be encouraged that the beauty of the summit is worth it. To know Jesus as your Jehovah-Jireh, Provider is a gift only those who have walked dark valleys and high mountains can know.
The Shepherd of your soul will always lift you onto His shoulders and carry you safely home. Amen.
