Growing up, I was never a fan of classical music. This might be because my stepfather played Handel’s Messiah every Christmas at an ear-splitting level. To clarify, I didn’t mind the words or message, just the type of singing, and the fact that he blasted it so loud. To this day, I can still hear the words “For unto us a Child is born…Wonderful, Counselor” echoing in my brain at full volume.
I always believed that to be a good Christian, I must follow the instructions of the Bible rather than sin. I must set a good example to please God and bring others to Christ. However, I believed that until I read the story of Rahab. Then, I realized we are redeemed like Rahab.
Please don’t misunderstand. God wants us to be obedient and let our light shine so others will see His glory. That’s why He gave us the Bible—his love letter. We will have less trouble in our lives when we follow the Bible’s instructions. It’s similar to a parent making rules for their children; rules intended to help keep them safe and make good choices. For example, parents instruct their children not to touch a hot stove because they desire to protect them from harm.
But just as a parent lovingly forgives their children for making mistakes or disobedience, God gives us grace and mercy.
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear “God’s grace”? My first thought is “a beautiful, unearned gift of salvation and forgiveness.” But recently, God has begun challenging my long-held belief of grace being a one-time gift we receive when we are saved. Perhaps you also desire more understanding about God’s generous gift of grace.
Maybe it’s just me, but, sometimes, I have found myself thinking: “I have been true to my faith. But God, why? How? When will my prayers come to pass? After all, telling myself to have faith and doing this can be two different things. I tend to want God to answer my prayers right away. But I have learned God’s timing, plan, and resolution can often differ significantly from mine. However, the story of Ruth offers me hope. I’ve also learned I don’t always have to know all the answers. God rescues and restores those who put their faith and hope in Him.
Are you a stressed-out, anxious, exhausted mom? Is there a recurrent pattern of “if only” in your mind? If only I could get more sleep. If only I had more time. If only I knew the right way to do this. If only I knew the right words to say. If only I had more patience. If only I could be a better mom like ____.
Have you ever messed up and felt unforgivable? Sadly, I have. When my daughter was twelve, I walked into the house with my arms full of groceries and tripped over her backpack, nearly falling. Rather than simply asking her to put it away, I lost my temper and barked at her about being more respectful. As the words flew from my mouth, I noticed the new friend she’d invited over and the look of horror on her face, and I was reminded of David when he wrote Psalm 34.
Whenever I’ve made mistakes, I’ve felt unworthy of God’s love and wanted to run from Him due to my shame. But when I read Psalm 34, I find genuine encouragement because it demonstrates God’s grace. It shows God is with us, helping, healing, and delivering us even when we are at our worst. All that is needed is a humble, repentant heart seeking God.
Is there a difference between knowing who God says you are and acting like that person? I once thought there must be some magical way to get God’s truth of my identity from my head to my heart. There must be a trick to actually “receiving” His gift of love and feeling the freedom His word promises.
“If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” This is advice we should all heed. Or should we? There was a point in my life when I thought if I just tried harder, I would stop letting God down. I knew that He forgave me when I sought forgiveness. But I was convinced that because I kept making the same mistakes again and again, I was a huge disappointment to God.
I am unfortunately prone to a pattern of giving my problems to God, then immediately picking them back up and refusing to let them go. Over the years I have e learned that God doesn’t always answer my prayers when and how I ask, I’ve also seen how He always shows up and acts on my behalf. In fact, when I look back on my life I see countless times where He has worked His good plans even out of seemingly bad situations. Yet, my obsessive need to find a solution on my own persists. Instead, I need to trust God. Trust is letting go.
Have you ever run away from God? I have. When I became a Christian I kept hearing about how I was supposed to behave. But because of my rocky childhood, I was a survivor. My coping mechanisms were keeping busy ,being perfectionistic with myself and others, and being angry when I and others couldn’t live up to my impossible expectations. But even worse, I saw God as a judgmental parent who rejected me because I wasn’t good enough.
