Grace (n).
1. Elegance or beauty or form, manner, motion or action.
2. A pleasing or attractive quality or endowment.
3. Favor or goodwill.
No offense to Webster’s but he didn’t even come close to explaining God’a grace. Maybe I’d understand grace better if the definition was a little closer to what God says about it but then again I guess words really can’t even begin to encapsulate all that grace really is.God’s grace is so much bigger and better than anything I could ever imagine. It’s like His love – all consuming. God will always love me, always, no matter what. There is nothing I can do that will make Him stop loving me or love me any more. That is perfect love and that I what grace is all about. Grace is extending love when it’s not deserved. No part of me deserves the grace and love that God showers me with every single day. I can’t fathom it. I mess up, I put others before God, I put my desires first and yet God is still there, every time. And not only is God still present, He is still pursuing me, wooing me, and reminding me how impossibly good He is.
I think the reason I struggle with understanding grace is because it is so rarely extended from people. I have impossibly high standards of the people in my life who are close to me and that love me. I expect so much from them – things that only God can give and so I’m let down by them for not reaching or exceeding what I hoped they would when in reality only God can. I’m learning that I will continuously be disappointed when I put all my hope in people or things that are not God. He is the only one who give everything I need and He is the only one who can truly satisfy my heart.
As hard as it is for me to extend or receive grace sometimes it is such a sweet moment when grace and love overcome. It’s amazing what happens when you extend grace to the kid you though was just a little punk and you finally give him a chance to speak and you realize not only is he a decent kid, he also has something to teach you. And how humbling it is when you’re on the receiving end of grace – when you mess up and hurt someone you love and instead of them condemning you they choose to love you even harder and give you a second chance.
Grace is difficult for me at times but I’m learning that grace is what God has for us. Grace is God giving us a second chance or a thousandth chance to try again in life with Him. God wants us to be with Him. He wants us to live in freedom with Him and to experience His love and all that He has for us, which is why He extends grace to His children. I’m still understanding all that grace is and what it truly looks like but the more I learn the more I see how good it is and how good God is. Love and grace were perfectly shown when Jesus died on the cross. That act alone is the greatest outpour of love ever extended.
I pray you will continue to see God’s unfailing and unending grace in your life and that you will be patient with me as I continue to learn what it truly is.
“My grace is sufficient for you, My strength is made perfect in weakness.” – 2 Corinthians 12:9
Merry Christmas!
– J
