Feel Fine Right Now

“How’s your day going?”

“Fine!”

“How are you today?”

“Fine!”

Is there anyone else out there that feels just a little fake answering these questions with a bright, cheerful “fine?”  I think the truth is that a lot of times we don’t actually feel fine, but since the checker at the grocery store isn’t really interested, it is easier to respond this way.

I struggle with the balance between beating myself up inside for not being more joyful or peaceful, and with being honest that life is hard, that it’s okay that I don’t always have a big smile on my face.  There are many times I put a lot of pressure on myself to feel fine right now, and I am fairly sure I am not the only one who does this.

Reality is that God’s grace is sufficient for me no matter what, but as Pastor Ron Thompson puts it, “It takes a lot of action to rest in grace.”  It is hard to be still, be broken, and know that it is okay.  The world around us does not give us any space to be quiet and reflect or heal, but God does.  It is alright sometimes to curl up in your Father’s loving arms and just rest in His grace.

This is so hard, especially if you have others, like children counting on you.  I for one, can feel like I am letting people down if I give myself some grace in the form of time alone.  That goes back to the action of resting in grace.  We have to do the work of silencing the accusing voice we hear and focus on what God is saying to us.

And He is saying that sometimes it takes a while to feel fine again, but while we are healing or growing He is right there with us giving us everything we need.  He is telling us that His grace is sufficient for us because His power is made perfect even in our current weakness.  As I focus on that truth, I just might end up with a real smile on my face.

“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”  II Corinthians 12:9