On days, such as we all have, when I am tempted to give in to self-pity I think of a person who made a profound impact on my life. In a cruel accident, many years before, her neck was broken and her body was instantly paralyzed from the shoulders down.

In spite of this she learned to transcend her valley of deep affliction, pain and confinement. For some time after the accident she gave in to anger and self-pity...then came her turning point. She made the decision to no longer waste her life with regret and despair. She chose instead to forget her limitations and concentrate on her Savior and on His abilities and strengths working through her. The scripture from II Corinthians 12:9 became her lifeline: "...'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weakness, that the power of Christ may dwell in me" (NAS).

As a result, Christ's love radiates and flows through her to encourage and uplift those overtaken by sorrow. Any room she is in is transformed by her contagious joy.

I asked her what her secret was. Her relpy was: "The greater my burden, the greater God's grace. I am limited only by a concentration on my circumstances because God's grace is always enough to meet any of my needs."

So try my solution if you are feeling sorry for yourself tonight. Think of this dear woman and her trust in God's grace to see her through the dark places. It will lift you out of self-pity every time.

Dear Father, forgive me of my self-pity which keels my eyes off You. I embrace the grace that You give so freely, and receive Your strength and power tonight in place of my weaknesses. Thank You, God, that Your grace is sufficient for me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.