Day Two Hundred Thirty-Six “At the Moment Needed”

            Our Christian school recently performed a rendition of Corrie Ten Boom’s experiences during the cruel Nazi reign in Europe.  This Dutch Christian, along with her family, would be imprisoned for hiding Jews during the German siege of her small town.  In the story The Hiding Place, Corrie relates a question that she, as a young child, posed to her beloved father: What is it like to die? Her father reminded her of the many times that they would walk hand in hand to take the train to Amsterdam.  Corrie would become anxious and worried; she wanted to hold her ticket, but her father kept that ticket safe, assuring her that she needed not to be concerned, he would handle it. Just before she approached the cashier, Mr. Ten Boom would hand his daughter the ticket.  That is how God deals with us, Corrie.  God supplies the grace at the exact moment that it is needed.

            I am often as young Corrie, prone to fret over my ticket before it is needed.  Fretting and worrying implies that I don’t quite trust that my Father is powerful enough, big enough, or loving enough to take care of what is happening in my life.  Worry is a small trickle of fear that meanders through the mind until it cuts a channel into which all other thoughts are drained.  That inability to rest in my Father’s care and wisdom drains my energy, saps my strength, and consumes my thoughts. But thankfully I need not fret, for Jesus knows my frame, is aware of my needs, and always supplies the “grace to help in time of need.”

            When I am overwhelmed with future fears, I remind myself of my Savior’s gentle words, “Take therefore no thought for the morrow; for the morrow shall take though for the things of itself.  Sufficient unto the day is the evil there of.” Please, my sweet daughter, do not fret about situations ahead of you.  I array the lilies in beauty, I feed the fowls of the air, I clothe the grass of the field, and you are of so much more value to Me, for I sent my Son to die in your stead.  When you stand in need of my grace, I will be beside you, handing you My grace at the exact moment that you are in need.

            Over the span of a lifetime, worry can add up to hours of valuable time that can never be recouped, and Jesus cautions us, “And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?”  He is gently reminding His child that her fretting is unfruitful and unnecessary, for the Father has me safely in His hand.

Hebrews 4:16   Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Thank You, Lord, for handing me the ticket of grace at the exact moment that it is needed. Help me to rest in my Father’s care, knowing that You are never late.

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