I want to share with you today an excerpt from our book, “Finding Grace & Peace IN SPITE OF Trials & Tragedy, The Johnny Ashley Story.”
I have always told Joann through the years that each new challenge that comes our way is a new opportunity to experience the grace of God. She at times doesn’t want to hear that because the pain is real and the fact of the matter is that we have had to draw on His grace more often than we would have liked to. But God’s grace and strength has held us up and together through some very difficult times. When He allows our faith to be tested, he gives us the grace we need to endure.
The Apostle Paul was faced with many challenges in his ministry. One particular problem that he had was what he termed the “thorn in his flesh.” He had asked the Lord to take it from him three separate times. God’s answer is recorded in 2 Corinthians 12:9“ And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” It truly is sufficient at all times.
Today as we navigate through the grief of Johnny graduating into heaven, the presence and grace of God is more evident than ever before. We have had an inner peace that has accompanied our grief. (Buckets of tears have been followed by a sense of God’s presence with us, which many times has brought more tears.) Not so much tears of sorrow, but tears of knowing that our heavenly Father is with us and there to bring us comfort in times of trial. There is comfort in knowing that there is a purpose to the pain and God is working in our difficult circumstances.
2 Corinthians 1:3 “ Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort”
May you find the grace of God for all your needs today.