As I sit here pondering what words of wisdom or encouragement I can offer you, my mind is flooded with thoughts. So much has happened and is happening. How does one focus and narrow it down to one thing? We can’t. Life is racing and for so many of you this year has not been kind. Circumstances have happened that we have no control over, whether it be with family members, health issues, finances, loss or change in job, retirement, or even the overwhelming world events. And IF you are a control freak it can send you reeling and grasping for something, anything to hold on to. I get it.
I think that regardless of the situation, the feelings are timeless. King David penned these words in Psalms 121 when his life was feeling out of control.
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Make of heaven and earth.”
Even in all the chaos and turmoil when David could have found himself slipping into depression, he knew WHO was in control. He knew WHERE his help came from…..God, the one who made everything. The One who knew before anything was spoken into existence or given the breath of life, what the outcome would be. Yet He loved us so much before we were even created that he was willing to go through with all of it.
Even loving us so much that He sent his one and only Son to the cross to cover all of the world’s sin and man’s curse. That is Grace. True Grace. It is not getting what we deserve. Paul says in Romans 6:23
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
In the Chaos of your life right now…who do you need to extend grace to? Is it a family member, a co-worker, a friend, or a neighbor? Maybe right now the biggest person on your list that desperately needs grace is ……YOU! That may have stung a bit, but it is true. It is often so much easier to forgive and extend grace to others than to ourselves. Is it because we feel that WE don’t deserve it? We can’t forgive ourselves? We should be better, wiser, work harder, just push through or figure it out without help?
I have a feeling that a lot of you right now can relate. Grace is not such an easy thing to give, especially when we continue to get hurt by offering it. But we are not doing it alone. We are simply mirroring what God has already done for us. Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble, but take heart I have overcome the world.”
He overcame all of the world’s sin and He conquered death. When He said “It is Finished.” He meant it. His blood covered all of it, even the craziness and messiness of your life. Even the chaos of this world. But the most important message is that His Grace and Salvation is free to all, and he does not want even one to perish. His grace is that deep and wide and his Salvation is that sufficient.
So amongst everything you have going on right now, take a moment to breathe. Sit down or step back and realize that the world will not get any less chaotic, but YOU personally know the one who calmed the storm. You know the one who knows the ending to our story. You Know the one whose Grace is sufficient for whatever you are going through or needing right now.
Shalom,
Pastor Penny
