First Baptist Church Of Memphis

Have you ever heard that phrase? I thought it was fairly common, but I could not find it on Google. It’s a phrase which, of course, speaks to the busyness of life. It’s an answer to the question, “What’s going on?” when too much is going on. It’s a sentiment that most of us can relate to, most times. Life indeed can be overwhelming.

This is true even when what’s going on is, for the most part, good or positive. Recently I’ve simply been amazed at how full the life of our community of faith has become. In the last month alone I’ve done funerals and blessed babies and visited folk in hospitals who are truly up against it. I’ve helped design banners, responded to stewardship reports, visited with campus ministers, planned fall schedules, contacted visitors, counseled folks, prepared studies, outlined sermons, etc. Truth be told such variety in work rather energizes me, but now that I stop and think about it…I almost feel winded.

Such a realization can lead one to several thoughts:

(1) The need to prioritize,

(2) The need to delegate,

(3) Even so, the inevitability of having to leave some things undone and thus, many times, leave some folk disappointed.

But what strikes me most at this moment is how large and expansive is the grace of God. Of how, while I cannot say grace over it all, God not only can, but has and does, far beyond my abilities. Jesus says if we have just the faith of a mustard seed, that we can move mountains. That all we need is a seed to yield a harvest ten, fifty, a hundred fold. That all we need is a few loaves and some fish to feed a multitude. That’s all God needs, really, a seed, a lunch box, of faith, energy, service, sacrifice…and with that, God can work miracles.

Not that that’s our goal. Our goal is all, everything, all that we have. We are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. Our God is a God of excellence who demands and expects our very best. And we should expect no less of ourselves.

But when we do that, and we still fall short, there is someone there to catch us, and all the balls that we inevitably drop. God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. My grace is sufficient for you. And it is in this that we rest, and we continue, even when life is overwhelming. For even when we can’t say grace over it all, God still does.