Grace is Like Manna

Have you ever seen others walking through tragedies or difficulties with the undeniable power of God and thought to yourself, There’s no way I could do that or I hope that never happens to me, because they have strength I don’t have? I’ve had thoughts like that, but here’s the deal….If you’re not in their shoes, you DON’T have the strength to face what they’re facing. Until you are faced with the same issue, you CAN’T handle it.

God equips you with His grace and strength when you need it, not before hand. Grace is a lot like the manna God gave the Israelites to feed them in the desert. Manna was a supernatural provision of bread God provided every morning to feed His people, but they still had to go out and gather it. Some gathered much and some gathered little, but when it was measured, he who gathered much did not have too much, and he who gathered little did not have too little. Each one had as much as he needed (Exodus 16:18). That’s how His grace works, too. No matter how much you get, it’s always exactly the right amount. It’s never too much and it’s never too little.

But check this out: Manna can spoil. When the Israelites gathered too much and tried to save the leftovers for the next day, in the morning it was full of maggots and began to smell (Exodus 16:20).

Hmm… I think God is trying to say something here. He wants us to depend on Him daily. He doesn’t want us to hoard what we need. In order to be good, manna has to be fresh. That begs the question:

Can grace can spoil too?

We don’t always need the same amount of grace each day. Some days are a breeze and some days are a bomb, but God meets our needs each day with just the right amount. His grace for each of us based on our situation on an as-needed basis. He measures our needs and then supplies them. When we need more grace, He pours it out accordingly. No matter how big or small our situation is, His grace is always sufficient for our own areas of need.

That’s why He never gives grace early and why it does no good to store it up. You can only receive it when you need it. Thankfully, His mercies are new every morning. So next time you’re afraid of what the future holds, remember, God’s grace rains down from heaven every morning. All you have to do is take it. 

Questions to Ponder:

Has there ever been a time in your life when you felt completely surrounded by God’s grace? How did it empower you to endure?

2 Corinthians 12:9 says, And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. How does this verse encourage you to react to difficulties differently?

Tell about someone you know and how their journey through difficulties has helped you see God’s goodness and given you hope for your own time of need.