It’s hard to fathom grace, grasp grace, process grace, acknowledge grace, receive grace. Regardless, the grace of God follows whether we turn towards or away. It’s the shadow that pursues. As we step into His light its evidence walks with every step. As lights dim we strain to see it, but grace remains.
Rest in that. Embrace your identity as His beloved for a moment. That’s who you are.
But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. Ephesians 2.4
Now, reread that first phrase in Ephesians. Because of His great love…
and take the next step.
Breathe in, and extend the grace given to you.
Even as it hurts.
I drove the winding dirty road, past dunes and seagrasses violently dancing in the tempest of the wind. I don’t even know what I snuck out to escape, only that the momentary retreat from the reality of the day called me. Masked under my own pretense of quiet and solace, my heart had been generating a murmur that rustled “run”.
I stopped short at the base of a huge tree, an existence of life now dormant, looming above. A bulky cortex anchored deep into hard-packed sand and rocks, stretched its crooked arms high and bellowed towards the sky. Entangled, ensnared with vines at its base, barren, so close to heaven’s doors…but falling short of the glory reaching to touch it.
There stood my mirror.
How can my limbs reach to the skies, yet resist to bend and supplement what heaven has done? My life spills stories and whether my mouth moves or not, it flows in attitude.
The wind breathed: extend grace.
Lied to, cheated over, talked about, talked down, cut off.
The wind called: extend grace.
We bleed, nurse wounds, wallow, and ruminate.
The wind cautioned: extend grace.
Grace isn’t weakness. Grace is Life that surges into the limbs causing pliability to bend against the forces. Our surrender to the grace – receiving and giving – is what keeps the limbs from breaking.
Extend grace.
Yes, even as it hurts.