NEEDFUL GRACE

(John MacDuff, "The Faithful Promiser")

"As your days — so shall your strength be." Deuteronomy 33:25

God does not give grace — until the hour of trial comes. But when it does come — the amount of grace, and the nature of the special grace required — is granted. My soul! do not dwell with painful apprehension on the future. Do not anticipate coming sorrows, or perplex yourself with the grace needed for future emergencies. Tomorrow will bring its promised grace — along with tomorrow's trials.

God, wishing to keep His people humble, and dependent on Himself — does not give a stock of grace. He metes it out for every day's exigencies, that they may be constantly traveling between . . .
  their own emptiness — and Christ's fullness;
  their own weakness — and Christ's strength.

But when the exigency comes, you may safely trust an Almighty arm to bear you through!

Is there now some "thorn in the flesh" sent to lacerate you? You may have been entreating the Lord for its removal. Your prayer has, doubtless, been heard and answered; but not in the way, perhaps, either expected or desired by you. The "thorn" may still be left to goad, the trial may still be left to buffet; but "more grace" has been given to endure them! Oh! how often have His people thus been led to glory in their infirmities, and triumph in their afflictions — seeing that the power of Christ rests more abundantly upon them! The strength which the hour of trial brings — often makes the Christian a wonder to himself!