3.31.09
This is an article that I wrote for Baldwin County Parent’s magazine. It is a local magazine that featured Maria and Caleb in the previous issue for a local St. Jude fundraiser. I was asked to do the article even before Caleb’s passing. What an awesome opportunity to share the raw and real power of God’s amazing grace. I thought I would share this with our caringbridge family.
Spirit Matters
A Test of Grace
By Mark Parsons
All my life I have understood grace to be the “unmerited favor of God.” This is a foundational biblical truth of which I am fully aware and treasure. However, there are times in this life when the comprehension of this truth can get a little fuzzy.
For so long I accepted grace with my salvation as something like a condiment on my favorite hot dog. To me, grace had just always been there. Well, recently I received a whole new revelation of grace, “A Test of Grace,” if you will.
With the recent passing of my three year-old son, I have experienced many different emotions. One day as I was in a heavy emotional fog, I was reminded of the scripture found in I Corinthians 12:9. The Apostle Paul was going through a pretty tough time himself, and the Lord spoke these words to him, “My grace is sufficient for you.” This is when the test of grace began for me.
I was experiencing sorrow, pain, separation anxiety and all the other gauntlet of feelings that accompany the loss of a dear and precious one. I remember thinking to myself that I wasn’t real sure if God could really handle this one. It was just too great. The pain was too real and too fresh.
After a period of intense struggle with myself and God, the phrase “My grace is sufficient” took on a whole new meaning. Through the power of the Spirit of God, I came to the realization that if His grace was going to work in my desperate situation, then I had to allow it to be applied.
Just like you, I have a will that the Lord has given to me, and if I “will” to stay in my pain and sorrow then I will. But! If I give the Lord permission to apply His grace, which is more than sufficient to help me make it through, He will in a mighty way. And He has.
God’s grace is sufficient and his strength is helping me in my weakness. As I see it, I had a choice to make. I could choose to live under a dark cloud of depression, or I could choose to walk in the power and light of His grace. It wasn’t a very hard choice once I came to grips with the reality of my heavenly Father’s love for me.
He loves you too! You too have a choice. You can give Him the permission right now to flood your body, soul, and spirit with the power of His love and His grace will meet you at your greatest need. The power and suffiency of our heavenly Father’s grace is nothing less than amazing! Will you receive it today?
My wife, Maria, and I have also given the Lord permission to take this circumstance in our lives and use it to bring about a greater good so that He will receive glory through it all. God bless!
Mark A. Parsons is the pastor of Family Harvest Ministries. He and his wife Maria are the Baldwin County parents of Mark II and Victoria. Mark submits this feature in memory of his precious son, Caleb, that went to be with Jesus on 3-9-09 after his battle with cancer.
