Just do it. -Nike

Don’t talk about it, be about it. -Bob Burns

Quotes meant to encourage you to stop mumbling and complaining about what needs to be done and just get up and do it already. Life burdens us. There’s always something to do and when it’s done, there’s always something else. Much of it is recurring, like dishes, laundry, planning dinner. Stressful, like getting the children ready for bed, then school the next day; like not taking it personal when your boss hurls subtle digs at you because they’re having a bad day.

Recurring tasks drain you when you’re listing them one by one and lamenting about how they devour all your time and energy. The mundane and drudgery make your life seem meaningless.

Then the miscellaneous tasks added to your endless chore list overwhelm you. Now not only do you need to feed the cat and walk the dog, but you also must deep condition your hair because you’ve been putting it off, and you gotta submit a complaint to headquarters about a refund because you’ve been getting the runaround. Oh, and you need to update your driver’s license to reflect your new address. And you need to find a babysitter for tomorrow because your aunt’s caregiver called in saying she had a family emergency.

Life happens. There’s always something. Some days are easy going; others, not so much. But grace is made available every day just like the manna God provided for His children in the wilderness. What you need to sustain–and empower– you in this day and every other day is available for you.

During their years of wilderness wandering, the children of Israel had to go out every morning to gather the manna blanketed on the ground like dew. They were commanded to gather only what was needed for their particular household, nothing more. The next day, they had to go out and do it again. When they attempted to gather more than what was needed, the manna spoiled.

Grace is like that. Each day has its own challenges and the grace you need for each day is readily available for the taking. Tomorrow is another day, and the grace it took for today may not be needed for tomorrow. You could require a little more or a little less.

The Lord’s grace is sufficient for whatever it is you encounter, endure or are expected to perform, but you must be mindful of the vessel you gather your grace into. Containers with holes and cracks lack integrity, and you risk losing their contents if repairs are not made.

You are a container, the vessel that houses God’s grace (the strength, power, ability, will) to accomplish all that is required in that day. But you must be mindful how you use it. Grace is similar to currency. Spent unwisely, you may find yourself wanting.

You waste grace by worrying and complaining.

You can spend so much time worrying about how you’re going to get everything done, or complaining about all you need to do, you leave yourself bereft of grace. Yes, worrying and complaining take energy, and the more time you spend doing it, the less energy you have to get the work done. You spend so much time—and grace—complaining about your job and all you must endure when you get there, you’re nearly drained by the time you arrive. Now you’re in a sour mood and trapped in turtle-time.

Worrying and complaining corrupt your vessel. They put cracks and holes in it and drain your grace. You already know what you need to do. Digest your list and fulfill it.

Understand and accept there is always something else. Do only what is required in today and let tomorrow take care of itself. You’d be surprised how much you accomplish when you are set to task, rather than worrying or complaining about it.

–D.L. Lunsford