There are two verses I read today which I pray I’ll take seriously in the days and months to come. The first is 2 Corinthians 9:8, which says, “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

I noticed at the bottom of my ESV Bible it says that “sufficiency” could also be translated as “contentment,” which sort of put things into perspective. Because according to Philippians 4:12-13, we can have contentment despite our circumstances through Christ. And if the verse in 2 Corinthians has so many all-encompassing words like, “…ALL grace… having ALL sufficiency (contentment) in ALL things at ALL times, you may abound in EVERY good work,” then I don’t know about you, but I am in dire need of taking this seriously.

And then almost as if it should follow directly, Hebrews 4:16 says: “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Frankly, things have been really tough lately. I remember my pastor looking at me soberly and saying, “Ministry isn’t easy. People will stab you in the back. And worse things than these are yet to come.” If I’m going to continue to follow Christ amongst all the hardships that accompany this sort of life, then I’m going to have to start living these verses, not just knowing them.