I began that Monday morning furiously writing down our family’s crazy schedules to get as organized as possible. I texted the five friends I had been meaning to get back to for months. I said a prayer for the many needs that had come up over the week.

It all seemed to go relatively smoothly until I neglected one friend who was counting on me. Then I didn’t communicate well with my husband about all of these plans. To top it all off, I got frustrated at my children for interrupting my time of “ministry.” I went to bed that night feeling like a complete failure.

I became so busy trying to make it all happen in my own strength.

The thing is, we can’t do it all. And we won’t do it all perfectly. I also feel there is this unspoken pressure in the ministry world that we are subconsciously supposed to.

But if Paul is correct in saying we are initially saved by grace alone (which obviously he is), aren’t we sustained by grace alone as well?

I am finite. We all are. But he who formed the deepest of seas and the highest of heavens is infinitely capable. He who intentionally fashioned every fiber of our sinews, personality traits, and DNA strands is not taken by surprise by our frailties and deficiencies.

Do we truly believe that His grace is fully sufficient for us, or is there still a piece of us striving to be everything to everyone? To prove ourselves worthy to our places of ministry, to our supporters, to our teammates, etc.?

I want to confidently proclaim with Paul when he says, “Follow me as I follow Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1),” but what about when I fail the very people I am seeking to point to Him?

Even then, His grace is sufficient. I will display that He is the only good in me and He is transforming me more and more into His likeness (2 Corinthians 3:18), even when I let them down. Which I will.

What about when I am brought down to the depths of doubts and questions (Psalm 139)?

Even there, His grace is sufficient. I will show others what it means to cling to truth even when I don’t feel the Lord in that season.

What about when I give in to my weakness and do exactly what I don’t want to do (Romans 7:15)?

Even then, His grace is sufficient. I will reveal what it looks like to run immediately back to Him.

We can continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling, in freedom, because we know it is God who works in us to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose (Philippians 2:12-13).

His grace truly is sufficient for all things. May we allow it to be in our own lives as well.