Trusting God’s Abounding Grace in the Deepest Waters
I welcome you again to our Summer Sizzle Series -week two. For the next couple of weeks, several of my amazing blogger friends will be sharing their top Biblical posts here. I pray you will be greatly encouraged by God’s Word.
Week One : 5 Verses to pray when you can’t find the words-Summer Sizzle Series
Today, I am sharing my dear friend Dawn Klinge who is a wife, mother, a business woman, and also marvelous writer over at dawnklinge.com . I admire her love for her family and her undying love for Christ.
“Your grace abounds in deepest waters,” is a phrase that comes from the song, Above the Waves (Where Feet May Fail), by Hillsong. I’ve been using the lyrics of this beautiful song as a framework for my writing over the past few years.
Here is a small stanza of the lyrics :
“Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You’ve never failed and You won’t start now”
The overarching theme is trusting in Jesus. I’ve been writing about trusting God when it really hurts-in the deepest waters.
God’s Abounding Grace
God’s abounding grace, in other words, his unmerited lovingkindness, is available to all who cry out to Jesus. It’s a promise that we can trust in, as stated in 2 Corinthians 9:8,
“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”
There is nothing said here about God making our problems go away, though he can do that, but it does say that because of His grace, we have everything we need, always (even in the most painful times).
To abound or abounding means, “to be present in great quantity,” (Merriam Webster). And the reason God does this?
It’s not only for our own comfort; He cares about that, but it’s not the most important thing. It’s so that we can “abound in every great work.”
Remember, God’s purpose is His glory. As we experience God’s abounding grace and comfort in times of pain, we are better equipped to in turn, pass along that comfort and encouragement to others when they are hurting, bringing glory to God our Father.
Sometimes God does take our problems away, as shown in many scriptures like this one,
“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven.” Psalm 107:28-30
Whether God chooses to remove our problems, or whether he chooses to walk us through them, allowing the pain to serve as a means to bring about growth, equipping us for good works, we can be assured that we have everything we need, because His grace abounds.
An important thing to know, when experiencing deep pain, is that God loves you. He’s seeking you out. You can choose to become bitter and angry through the pain, or you can turn to God through prayer, and allow a deeper relationship to develop as you learn to trust in Him.
Trusting God’s Abounding Grace in difficult times :
I love what Jerry Bridges said about this in his book, Trusting God,
“There is no question that adversity is difficult. It usually takes us by surprise and seems to strike where we are most vulnerable. To us it often appears completely senseless or irrational, but to God, none of it is either senseless or irrational.
He has a purpose in every pain He brings or allows in our lives. We can be sure that in some way He intends it for our profit and His glory”
I pray that you will understand just how much God loves you, how his love is all around you, and how he sees you as beautiful. I pray that if you are in pain, that you will feel God’s peace when you place your trust in Him.
Let me leave you with this amazing quote I read recently:
“My trust in God flows out of the experience of His loving me, day in and day out, whether the day is stormy or fair, whether I’m sick or in good health, whether I’m in a state of grace or disgrace. He comes to me where I live and loves me as I am.” Brennan Manning
About the Author -Dawn Klinge
Dawn is a freelance writer and Christian blogger who loves encouraging women to keep their focus on Jesus. She’s the author of Look to Jesus: How to Let Go of Worry and Trust God. She’s a wife and mom to two teens. A Seattle girl, she loves books and coffee. You can find her at www.dawnklinge.com
Alice Mills
June 11, 2018 at 12:09 amI once heard Brennan Manning speak. I loved his books before but his talk had a lasting impact on me. Great post.
Diana
June 11, 2018 at 12:20 amI have never heard of Brennan Manning , until I came across this quote of his recently. Need to read about him more . Thank you for stopping by Alice.
Michele Morin
June 11, 2018 at 7:54 amThe tests and trials do make us stronger, and I’m grateful for this thought-provoking reminder of the purpose that hardship serves in our walk with God! Nothing is wasted!
Diana
June 11, 2018 at 9:36 amThank you Dawn for this encouraging post . Can we trust God when we are knee deep in the waters? You have explained so beautifully about the God’s Abounding Grace for every one who believes in HIM.
Shawniece
June 11, 2018 at 12:59 pmThis was a really Good encouraging post. It serves as a reminder that God is with you in EVERYTHING.
Christine Carter
June 11, 2018 at 1:29 pmThis was SO nourishing to me. Thank you for this encouragement Dawn, and thank you, Diana, for having her valuable message here today.
Ashleigh Rich
June 11, 2018 at 5:22 pmManning’s book The Raggamuffin Gospel is a great book about grace. Anyone who hasn’t read it should. It’s raw, real, and super down to earth, but also extremely powerful. It, like this post, will help you to have a greater understanding and appreciation of God’s grace.
Dawn M. Klinge
June 12, 2018 at 9:41 amThank you, Diana, for allowing me to share with your readers. You are a blessing to me.
Jodi Perez
June 13, 2018 at 11:13 amBeautifully Written! What an encouraging word.
Mindy
June 13, 2018 at 2:08 pmThis post called to me today as I’m studying the book of Psalms. Today’s Psalm 3 and it’s all about how God is there even through all the trials. Even surrounded by enemies, David had faith in God to bring him through.
Lord, how many are my foes!
How many rise up against me!
2 Many are saying of me,
“God will not deliver him.”[b]
3 But you, Lord, are a shield around me,
my glory, the One who lifts my head high.
4 I call out to the Lord,
and he answers me from his holy mountain.
Thank you for reinforcing God’s encouragement. <3
Joy
June 13, 2018 at 3:33 pmThank you for this timely reminder. I love the way you say God intends for our pain to be for our profit and His glory. It’s encouraging to realize we all have challenges and they are all for our good.
Sarah- Inkblots of Hope
June 13, 2018 at 4:11 pmI so love the balance of this post! It reminds me of the verses in Hebrews 11 (paraphrasing) where it talks about how some were delivered from the mouth of the lion and some were devoured by the lion, yet glory was brought to God in both instances. Thanks for sharing, ladies!
Joy
June 13, 2018 at 9:39 pmThank you for this wonderful reminder. It is encouraging to know that in some way God intends for our sufferings to be for our profit and His glory. It’s encouraging to know we do not journey through our trials alone.
thismamaandherkids
June 13, 2018 at 10:17 pmNo test is enjoyable when we’re going through. But I’ve learnt that God is always there, right beside me, cheering me on. Even though I haven’t enjoyed those times, nothing has grown my walk with God like the fire. Through it all, God is working out his plan and writing my story! Thanks for the reminder and sweet encouragement.
Emily | To Unearth
June 14, 2018 at 9:15 amThis is such a great reminder that God doesn’t necessarily take away our problems, but He gives us everything we need to get through them!
Robert
June 14, 2018 at 6:20 pmThanks for the post. Oceans was a song that spoke to me specifically a few years ago, and the lyrics continue to have meaning for me even now. The whole idea of going through deep waters and trusting God is still relevant, and I am discovering new insights on my journey. It can be difficult to trust God in these times but we know that he holds us in the palm of his hands and will not let us drown. He is also our rock and our anchor.
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Lori Schumaker
June 19, 2018 at 6:10 pmMy upcoming post is on this same topic! Love the summer series, my friend! And I miss doing it this year with you all!!! Sending hugs ♥
Lori
Diana
June 19, 2018 at 9:34 pmMiss doing the series with you , Lori ! I can’t wait to visit your site and read the upcoming post . Much love ❤️
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