“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand… For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I am the one who helps you.” (Isa 41:10-13, ESV2011)

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2Cor 12:9, ESV2011)

Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming [out] from us, but our sufficiency is from God, (2Cor 3:4-5, ESV2011- emphasis added)

For some time the phrase, “Our sufficiency is IN Christ,” has been on my mind. Two mornings ago as I read my T. Austin-Sparks devotional, what God has been trying to tell me all came into focus.

Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount said, “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” (Matt 6:34, ESV2011) Here this thought about the sufficiency of the grace of God in our lives is shown by Jesus from the reverse side. He is basically saying that we are not to be anxious about the future or what might happen to us, but what about “sufficient to the day is the grace thereof,” Jesus? Austin-Sparks wrote,

It has often been said that many things which crush us today are the things which have never happened, and may never happen. They exist in our fear, our imagination, our reason. Even if we do have a ‘practical common sense which does not leave things to chance’, are we wise in taking possibilities without the assurance of “As thy days, so shall thy strength be”? (1)

This is so true. Our anxiety shows our lack of faith that God is in command of our lives to order them as He knows best. “…And as thy days, so shall thy strength be.” (Deuteronomy 33:25). I am sure glad that we have this verse in the Bible as well! What an amazing promise we have in this verse! Our Father has promised us that His strength and grace in our lives will be sufficient for the troubles and needs of each day if we simply cast all our cares upon Him (see 1 Peter 5:7). Sparks continues,

“…[This promise] puts our lives on the basis which [He] alone can see us through… From the natural and temporal to the Divine and eternal. Firstly, it establishes us in Divine resource. The great all-comprehending “He” is the all-sufficient source. Not the sooner or later, the shorter or longer of life’s tenure, but “the eternal God”. Not the hap, chance incidents and circumstances of life to dictate and govern, but “God over all”. Not the human or satanic forces deciding the length of our days or the destiny of our lives; but “the God and Father, who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will”. (1)

If we abide by faith IN Christ our lives are hid IN Christ (see Colossians 3:1-3) and not in our own strength external from Him. It is here we will live out another promise, “I came that you might have Life and that more abundantly.” We are called to be a people who have our lives fixed IN Christ, not in and of ourselves. We are Father’s heavenly people if we have HIS Spirit dwelling in us. His ways become our ways and His thoughts become our thoughts as we rest IN His Son, and He gives His angels charge over us!

Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the most High, your habitation; There shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling. For he shall give his angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways. (Ps 91:9-11, KJ2000)

Did you see that? Christ and the Father are our habitation! It is HERE that all His promises are yea and Amen (2 Cor. 1:20) Sparks continues,

When the women were hastening on their mission of mercy to the tomb of Jesus, anxious care entered their hearts: “Who shall roll away the stone?” When they arrived, it was already rolled away, by “a great angel”. There are angels who can anticipate us. God has said “As“; no more, no less. (1)

“AS thy days, so shall thy strength be.”

(1) http://www.austin-sparks.net/pdf/searchable/AWAT1965.pdf