New Grace

It seems that God's seasons bring about an infinite amount of worth in wisdom unknown to this still feeble heart of mine.  What I considered a complete loss turns out to be foundations upon which he is in the process of setting pillars. New pillars.  New graces. 

The storms of life know no boundaries.  They know no circumstance, and neither do they care.  Some come without warning, others with sirens blaring.  It is true that my heart and soul have been battered by the winds of both shame and shock.  My mind cannot wrap itself around the devastation my actions have borne.  But this is not what makes the world spin round, for me or anyone else. 

 

God moves in like a mighty rushing wind, and he breathes new life into old, dry bones.  He makes all things new.  He pours out grace upon grace upon grace.  Just as the storms of life know no boundaries, neither does his love.  It is unfailing, unchanging, unyielding.  It is fiercely jealous. It does not stop at the gates of hell and refuse to enter.  It flows like a river. It streams into those places that are the darkest, deepest, hardest, coldest, and most barren and empty. 

It is true that as water takes the path of least resistance, so do we, his flock.  The reality, however, is that the path of least resistance is my own resistance to his truth, his hope, his love, his grace, his peace.  But where I fail in my human condition is not simply in my sin; it is the eventual despair in the lie that all is lost. It is believing that my worth is dashed on the rocks and my purpose is forever gone.  It is caving to the thief's intent to steal, kill, and destroy that which Christ purchased for me with his blood and sealed with his glorious resurrection. 

It is beautiful, then, that if I "humble [myself] therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift [me] up in due time." (1 Peter 5:6 NIV) 
The season lasts for a night, and with the morning comes shouts of joy: "For his anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." (Psalm 30:5 NKJV)
"But your dead will live, LORD; their bodies will rise- let those who dwell in the dust wake up and shout for joy- your dew is like the dew of the morning; the earth will give birth to her dead." (Isaiah 26:19 NIV)
"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." (1 Peter 5:10 NIV)
"Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given." (John 1:16 NIV)
"Let the morning bring me word of his unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you.  Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life." (Psalm 143:8 NIV)

And so the seasons change, new life burgeons forth, and his mercies are new every morning.  Joy floods the floor of my soul, and hope flies untethered.  Strength returns and my footing becomes firm and steadfast once more.  His peace covers me, hems me in, and comforts me.  New grace replaces grace already given, and I find the spark being fanned into a passionate fire into a full-blown blaze.

Indeed, grace, love, and peace to you also.