July has a aura about it. And, I'm not talking about new age emanations or bio-rhythms or anything out there on the fringes of reality. Named after Julius Caesar, and you remember what happened to him, it is the hottest month of the year in our hemisphere, and usually the beginning of the sauna season in our neck of the woods. It also the provides perfect climate for the South Carolina state bird---that would be the mosquito---to flourish, and for some of the lesser pests of the insect world, like no-seeums, to multiply and grow. July is Biblical too, by the way---the grass withers and the flowers fall
(1 Peter 1:24). Aren't we all glad.
More personally, July could be a bummer, introspective and dark, depression time. Harriet's mother died in July, 1974. My mother died in July, 2008. I was diagnosed with stage four transitional cell carcinoma in July, 2004, had two cancer surgeries in July the same year. More recently I brought blood with the hammer just the other day, another blight on July. That honey do list will kill me yet! And, not to mention a few vacation disasters, air conditioning malfunctions, the car engine that blew up heading to Hilton Head one year, or the July we almost froze to death camping in Colorado. Yes, there have been times when I'd just about as soon skip July, rip that page right out of the calendar, or delete that part of my Outlook program.
But, today I read a Bible verse. Yes, once again God gave me an amazing truth that has snatched me from the jaws of this potentially all-consuming, man-eating bitterness and delivered me to the refreshing fields of His provision. Very simply it reads, "But, he gives us more grace" (James 4:6).
Isn't it just like God to pour on the grace when we're really ready for a good pity party? And, you know I'm not specifically talking about saving grace here, but rather the grace that sustains, the grace that is sufficient for the troubles of life, the grace that sees us through, the grace that carries us. How often we evangelicals talk about this unmerited favor that brings us new life and covers our sin with his wonderful provision. At the same time, we often forget the abundance of his grace for the many hardships and tests, the proverbial dog days of summer or dark nights of the soul.
An old German proverbs reminds us, Who has never tasted what is bitter does not know what is sweet. Experiencing the heaviness of July and those realities that give us pause makes his generous and most blessed provision even that much more precious and sweet.
Bitterness is often the result of the July moments that happen. As we contemplate and remember them the bile rises and that old root of bitterness grows deeper and deeper, often leaving us sour, disappointed, and resentful. The other day an older gentleman said, "I don't want to be a bitter old person." When I was silent, he added, "But I guess I will be, because I've always been a bitter young person." That was sad, as if it were a foregone conclusion, as if there was not a remedy, an antidote to the toxins of bitterness.
Problem A is that so many of us seek to solve these deep seeded tragedies with sugar coating---a new car, a make-over, addictions of every kind, you know, cosmetics. A Yiddish proverb reminds us that "If you are bitter at heart, sugar in the mouth will not help you." True.
That's where grace comes in . You see, "he gives us more grace." The writer of Hebrews also wrote, "See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows to cause trouble and defile many" (Hebrews 12:15).
You see, when it's your July, and it's getting hot, he gives more grace!
And, that makes me thankful. Rejoice and be glad!
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