How To Make A Comeback
Why grace is everything
Brennan Manning was a priest, author, and public speaker. He was best known for his book The Ragamuffin Gospel in which he describes his battle with alcoholism and finding God’s grace through his faults. Manning was very open about his ongoing struggles. Noting that at times in his life he could preach to thousands at a conference about grace; then relapsing later that night.
His story contains moments of weakness that even Manning himself would not recommend any believer look up to. However, despite his failures, he continued to be honest about his shortcomings and always pointed to the cross and the grace that was found there.
In his final memoir, Manning spoke to all of us when he said: “I have said countless times that losing our illusions is difficult because illusions are the stuff we live by. We believe we’re invincible until cancer comes knocking, or we believe we’re making a comeback until we tumble down the stairs. God strips away those falsehoods because it is better to live naked in truth than clothed in fantasy. The last few years have been a “stripping away” like I’ve never experienced. About all I’m left with now is rags, somewhat fitting I guess for a man who has preached such a gospel. If I ever was a ragamuffin, I am now. For ragamuffins, God’s name is Mercy; or in the present vernacular of my life–Help. Nowadays if I want to put on my jeans and shirt, someone has to help me. If I want to eat a slice of pepperoni pizza from Pete & Elda’s or an ice cream cone, someone has to help me. If I have to go to the bathroom, I need help. I need help to turn up the volume of the Yankees game. To access my medicine or open my Diet Coke, I must have help. To get into bed at night, help. To rise in the morning, help. To nap in the afternoon, help. To write this book, help. Carlo Carretto wrote, “We are what we pray.” These are days of prayer without ceasing–“Help me! Have mercy on me!” And my Father, who is so very fond of me, does.” (All Is Grace: A Ragamuffin Memoir).
We all need help
Pastor Will taught us this weekend on the idea of grace. We all need it. Some of us just try not to admit how much we need it. You see, whether or not you’ve struggled with addiction, we all are like Brennan Manning... we need help. The thing is, we spend a lot of our lives trying to pretend that we don’t need help. But the longer we try to muscle through our struggles and hard seasons, the longer we’re keeping ourselves from experiencing God’s power and grace.
News flash: You aren’t good enough. But, God is.
We all need to make a comeback because without grace we aren’t where we should be. We need to be willing to say, “God, I need you to take control. Forgive me. Strengthen me. Use me. Thank you for your grace and mercy.” Then, hold on, because the ride is about to get good. It won’t always be easy. But when we walk in the grace that comes from God, it will always be good. And it will be used to bring Him glory. When we let God fill in the gaps of our weaknesses and struggles, it’s His power that gets to be on display.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Grace changes how we live
Once we’ve allowed ourselves to come under God’s grace, everything about our lives changes. The best part is when we experience grace we can’t help but live in a way that shares that grace with others. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. He is faithful in providing it and using it to grow you and bring others to know Him.
One final thought from Brennan Manning:
“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today is Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him by their lifestyle. That is what an unbelieving world simply finds unbelievable.”