He gives all the more grace; therefore, it says, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” James 4: 6 (NRSV)
Three years after Annie Johnson was born on Christmas Eve, 1866, her mother died during childbirth, and her father was suffering from an incurable disease, so Annie and her sister went to live temporarily with the widow of a soldier killed in the Civil War where it is reported neither girl felt loved. It was their father’s wish they be adopted by a nearby Christian family, the Flints, which eventually occurred.
Annie became a school teacher, but she suffered with a severe form of arthritis that left her disabled. Her adoptive parents passed away, and Annie was left an invalid with no income. There was only one thing she could do, and she could barely do that – compose poetry. Annie Johnson Flint became a renowned writer across the Christian world, though her arthritic condition made it increasingly painful to record her compositions and her income was always meager. Yet her needs were met, and her income appeared just as she needed it.
One of her best-loved poems, eventually becoming the hymn titled “He Giveth More Grace,” lovingly chiding us that God gives all the more grace as we need it, as we trust Him with yielded hearts, whatever our unforeseen circumstances.
BOTTOM LINE:
- He giveth more grace as our burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength as our labors increase;
To added afflictions He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials He multiplies peace.
3. Fear not that thy need shall exceed His provision,
Our God ever yearns His resources to share;
Lean hard on the arm everlasting, availing;
The Father both thee and thy load will upbear.
2. When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources
Our Father’s full giving is only begun.
Chorus:
His love has no limits, His grace has no measure,
His power no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again.
Thanks to Robert J Morgan for sharing the above clip from his book All To Jesus: A Year of Devotionals – Day 41. 2008