Beginning to reflect on grace
On a lot of days, it’s easy to feel like a bundle of mess that’s like a ball of string rolling itself down a hill. Once it’s at the end, it’s all ravelled out, and there’s nothing left. There are many responsibilities and roles we all must fulfil and needs of those around us to be met.
After getting through a busy day recently, I lay in bed thanking God that he kept me going; realising it was His grace that enabled each step. I’m so thankful I get to do life with a gracious God.
That night I also began to imagine life without all the moments of grace that fill my days and world around me. I saw how much of my life would feel empty, broken, bruised, shallow and helpless. To me, a life without grace would be missing countless lessons, joys, pick-me-ups and friendships.
A life without grace
A life without grace would be unliveable. Days wouldn’t involve…
A little girl, holding your hand, looking up at you to say, “Do you know we can learn from our mistakes?” Or kind parents laughing with you over a funny accident that happened to their children whilst you were babysitting them.
Extensions for assessments wouldn’t be granted. Sicks days wouldn’t exist. Libraries wouldn’t have grace periods for overdue books. Friends couldn’t ‘love at all times’ (Proverbs 17:17).
Dads would be mad after a window broke (because you were throwing balls inside) instead of graciously fixing it without your help. A colleague would hover over you as you do the task they asked, instead of walking away and trusting you with it (even if mistakes happened). Without grace, not having the answer would be scary.
Without grace, one couldn’t say, “I don’t know.”
People loving you for just being a person wouldn’t love you. One couldn’t borrow money. Second chances wouldn’t happen. Mercies each morning would never be new. Fear would reign, worry would prosper, kindness would perish.
Weekends would be terrible. Rest couldn’t exist as we’d all be trying to impress and win over our bosses, friends, colleagues, in-laws, lecturers, teachers, relatives, or trainers.
Most of all, we’d be relentless in our striving to know and reach God.
A God without grace
I often think that God’s grace is behind all the beauty of creation. Think about it—God didn’t have to make the world as majestic, magical and marvellous as he has done. All the colours of the rainbow, the shades of flowers, shapes of clouds, layers in rocks, clearness and deepness of oceans—he didn’t have to make any of these wonderful things.
Why did he create seasons? Why did he create all the different types of insects, bugs, mammals, fish? He made it to show His glory and power, but also to show us his grace.
His grace made us and gave us breath. Each day is a gift of his grace. Can you imagine a world without such a gracious creator?
Not only did God create, in grace, the world and its inhabitants – he also created his son, the very definition of grace! What if the man-God, Jesus, was without grace?
There wouldn’t have been a sermon on the mount in front of everyone from here, there and everywhere. Without a gracious Jesus, the gospels wouldn’t be full of the stories that win so many to Christ. The stories that involve Jesus healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, sitting with sinners, eating with his disciples and washing their feet.
The triumphant victory on the cross would have never been displayed, the tomb never filled, and stone never rolled away. His return to heaven wouldn’t have been needed, as I believe, a God without grace wouldn’t have even sent his Son down in the first place.
God’s grace brought Jesus to us and Jesus’ grace brought us to God. The radical grace of God means we can spend an eternity in His paradise getting to know Him more and enjoying Him forever. Without grace, we’d be left in despair, knowing our only sure path was a road to destruction that didn’t lead to a loving God at the end.
Therefore, without grace we would never be able to meet God, let alone be His friend. Without grace, the moments at the end of the day with Jesus wouldn’t exist. Lighting candles and whispering through tears to a gracious Father that sits on the chair opposite me would only be a dream unheard of.
We can sing for joy on sad days, forgive our enemy, and turn the other cheek because of Jesus grace. We can do the busy days and end up a bundle of mess at the end of them because of Jesus’ grace. We can also see the very face of God because of that grace.
We are enveloped with a grace that is promised to always hold us because of Christ. Marvel in the grace filled, grace soaked, grace drenched life you have been graciously blessed with; and ask yourself the question:
What would my life be like without grace?
Renee Jenner resides in Sydney, Australia and is currently in her third year of studying Social Work. She is the first born of home-base missionary parents whose ministry has made a huge impression on her heart. She always writes from the soul to the soul, desiring to encourage readers to enjoy God, relax in His goodness and spread His love to the utmost parts of the earth. She loves a good cuppa with a deep, thoughtful conversation. You can find her other writings at renee.jenner.wordpress.com
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Renee Jenner resides in Sydney, Australia and is a recently qualified social worker who has recently found a job! She is the first born of home-base missionary parents whose ministry has made a huge impression on her heart. She always writes from the soul to the soul, desiring to encourage readers to enjoy God, relax in His goodness and spread His love to the utmost parts of the earth. She loves a good cuppa with a deep, thoughtful conversation. You can find her other writings at renee.jenner.wordpress.com