Grace to Bear What Is Not Removed
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." — Hebrews 4:16
The Prayer That Changes Everything
Most of us pray one prayer about our difficulties: take them away.
There is a better one, and it changed a life.
"Instead of crying out to the Lord to remove all our troubles, we should ask Him to remove those which He wants to remove — and to give us an extra measure of grace to bear the rest."
Notice the two halves.
Remove what You intend to remove. This leaves the selection to Him rather than to you. It assumes He is sorting through your troubles with purpose rather than indifference.
Give me grace for the rest. This assumes some will remain, and asks for the one thing that makes remaining bearable.
Since learning this, she said, she has had to go before that throne of grace and ask for an additional measure of grace more times than she could count. And the Lord has always faithfully answered and given exactly the grace she needed.
Grace Is a Supply, Not a Feeling
We generally think of grace as unmerited favor — which it is, and which is how we are saved. But Scripture also speaks of grace as an ongoing supply given for a specific need.
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)
In time of need. Grace to help, at the moment of helping. It is issued when required rather than stockpiled in advance — which is exactly why you often cannot imagine bearing something until you are actually bearing it.
"My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Paul asked three times for removal. He was given sufficiency instead.
Why We Do Not Ask
Because asking for grace to bear something feels like giving up hope that it will change.
It is not. You may ask for both in the same breath, and you should. Remove what You will remove — and carry me through what remains.
But there is an honest reason we avoid the second half: it commits us to staying. And some part of us would rather keep negotiating for escape than settle in for endurance.
When Grace Arrives
One thing worth knowing in advance: grace is very rarely given ahead of schedule.
You will look at a situation and think, I could not survive that. You are probably right — today. The grace for it has not been issued, because today is not the day you need it.
"As thy days, so shall thy strength be." (Deuteronomy 33:25)
Do not measure tomorrow's trouble against today's supply. It will always look impossible, and it is not.
Point to Ponder
Grace is issued at the time of need, not stockpiled. That is why tomorrow's trouble always looks unsurvivable from today.
Verse to Remember
"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." — Hebrews 4:16
Question to Consider
What have I been demanding God remove, when I should have been asking Him for grace to carry it?
Today's Practice
List your current troubles — all of them, in one place, however small.
Now go through the list and pray over it differently than you ever have:
"Father, You go through this list. Remove what You intend to remove — I am not going to tell You which ones. And for everything that remains, give me an extra measure of grace to bear it well."
Then, for the single hardest item on the list, come boldly and ask specifically:
"Father, I need grace for ______ today. Not for the next ten years — for today. Give me what I need for today."
Then get up and live the day. Tomorrow you will come and ask again.
That is not a weaker way to pray. It is how the throne of grace is designed to be used.
Prayer
Father, I have prayed one prayer about my troubles for years: take them away. And when You have not, I have prayed it louder.
Today I am praying differently.
Go through my list Yourself. Remove what You intend to remove — I hand You the selection. I trust that You are sorting with purpose and not with indifference.
And for everything that stays, give me grace. Not a general reserve of strength — grace for today, for this specific weight, at the moment I need it.
Thank You that Your grace is sufficient and that Your strength is made perfect in my weakness. I have plenty of weakness to work with.
As my days, so let my strength be. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Ask Him to remove what He will remove, and to carry you through what remains. Both, in the same breath.