The Gift of Grace

Grace is the unearned, unmerited love of God 

that meets us where we are

and takes us where we need to be. 

And it is messy, thank God, because we are messy.

The flat plain of our everyday lives, the unchanging horizon of the plan we think is our purpose starts out straightforward.  But little by little, decisions made and actions taken and opportunities not seen reveal valleys and canyons that we didn’t know were there.  We stumble and fall and long to be back up on level ground, where we know what is around us and can see what lies ahead. 

God sees us in the low places and His grace will lead us back to a more level field.  Where we can catch our breath and reflect back on where we have been.  Where we can look around and thank Him for leading us out of that valley of shadows and back to greener pastures and still waters.  He restores our soul and through the messy road we’ve been traveling, He moves us to a path of righteousness, for His name’s sake.

But that’s not the end of the road.  He has met us there and is leading us to new heights.  The mountains and hills that burst into song for Him are waiting for us.  For His ways are higher than our ways and He will accomplish what He pleases and He will have mercy on those who return to His ways.  Though we were blind, now we see that this gift of grace is all that matters. 

Let us be quick to share that same grace with others.  Let us forgive and forget and remember our own stories of when God’s grace covered our lives and led us out of dark places.  Let us take someone’s hand and not say a word but just show that we love.  Because He first loved us—unearned, unmerited, undeserved, freely given Love.  

Psalm 23

Isaiah 55