The word “grace” has a nice easy sound. Not threatening or harsh in any way. I’ve heard it spoken thousands of times in the last twenty years to blanket almost every situation known to man, never quite understanding what it meant. I once thought it was just a vague, cliché Christian word used to explain away things that couldn’t be fully understood. I was only partially correct. It does explain things we cannot fathom, but there is nothing vague or cliché about grace. It is the power through which we live and breathe as Christ followers, the answer to every problem, and the solution to every circumstance. Why? Because grace is Jesus and the finished work of His sacrifice on the Cross.

Scripture says “And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) As we draw near to Jesus through prayer and reading the Word, only then are we able to experience grace, because grace flows through Him. Everything Jesus came to accomplish, which answers any problem we will ever face, is grace: unconditional love, healing (heart, mind, body), freedom (when burdens are lifted), and peace when things don’t make sense.

Twenty years ago, as a new believer, I was instructed on the importance of reading the Bible. And let me tell you, I was quite a mess. I started in Matthew only to find that I was breaking practically every one of the Ten Commandments. About the only thing I hadn’t done was commit murder or covet my neighbor’s wife (kidding – sort of). I felt like a total loser and unworthy of God’s love. But He did not treat me that way. The moment I began reading the Bible and seeking to find God, Jesus was present. I realized I was living worse than even I thought and at the same time I felt loved and accepted like never before. He loved me in spite of my horrible failures and shortcomings. I experienced Jesus – I experienced grace. In Christ, there is no shame or guilt but a pure love that changes our hearts and desires. I no longer wanted to follow the ways of society – I wanted to follow Jesus. Through my relationship with Him and His unchanging grace, I became a better me. Over time, there was very little residue of the chains of guilt and shame.

Then, on the worst day of my life, when I learned that my husband, three sons, and daughter had all been killed instantly in a car accident, I found myself in desperate need of God’s grace. And He was immediately with me. The grace of God was so powerful that I could feel the tangible, protective presence of Jesus. I knew that His grace was also guarding my mind and keeping me stable when the circumstances called for something very different. This kind of grace was new to me. When the Apostle Paul was experiencing torment in his life and asked the Lord to take it from him, this was the answer he received: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor. 12:9). The definition of sufficient is simply “enough.” When I had thought of this scripture in the past, my mind translated it to “barely enough,” most likely because of my own life circumstances. However, beginning on October 18, 2005, I understood it to mean “perfectly enough.” And as He healed my heart and restored my life, Jesus and His glorious grace never left me. It has “always” been enough.

I don’t know what you’re facing today. It could be your best day or possibly your worst. In either scenario, Jesus is present for you, ready and willing to be your “enough.” And you don’t have to pray extra hard or jump through any hoops; you need only to call upon His name. “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)