The Spa

I realized recently that I had been giving myself a “grouch allowance” when certain things happened.

They were mostly trivial things like having to clean up a mess when I was tired or my husband being late—things that I could have easily gotten through if I hadn’t predetermined that I had the right to get grouchy in those circumstances.

Jesus tells us, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Grace, I realized, is a choice. I could choose to avail myself of the grace Jesus freely offers and plug into His infinite power, or I could gripe and try to muddle through on my own. As soon as I told myself that a particular situation was too much, it wastoo much. And if I allowed myself to gripe about it, the situation became even more difficult. But if I maintained the position that Jesus’ grace was sufficient, it was. He always came to my rescue and made the situation bearable or even enjoyable.

Sometimes the concept of relying on Jesus’ grace and strength—also known as “resting in the Lord”—seems quite abstract. How cool it would be, I have thought, if there were an actual couch that I could plop down on and, by virtue of simply being there, rest in the Lord.

Well, there is such a place where grouches like me can go—a nice little spa where I can get fixed up so nicely you would hardly know how awful I really am, if only I would visit it often enough. You women know what I mean. Think of how relaxed you feel in the hands of your favorite hairstylist. You know he can fix your worst hair day, and you hardly need to look in the mirror when he’s done, because you know you look your best. It’s like that.

What works best for me is before the day starts and again whenever one of those problem situations begins to unfold, I close my eyes and go to that spa. I say to the stylist, “Jesus, I’m a mess, but Your grace is sufficient. Fix me up with some of that!” Then I know it’s done, and I act like it.

Some days are better than others, of course, but I know where to go when things begin to go wrong. Jesus’ spa is always open.

—

Psalm 62:5 NIV – Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.

1 Peter 5:7 NIV – Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.

Psalm 62:5 NIV – Yes, my soul, find rest in God: my hope comes from him.