The Grace That Covers Change

I stepped into this local coffee shop in hopes of spending some time with God in a quiet place. I got my iced tea and found a quiet corner to be alone. As I’m sitting here a group of four ladies came in and out of all the places in this quiet coffee shop they chose to sit next to me. The quietness is gone. I can’t focus. I can’t think. They are all lovely ladies who clearly enjoy being together and sharing their lives with each other.  The grace that I need to extend to them comes with some hesitation. When they get up to leave they acknowledge me with joy. Words like “we’ll let you be alone now”, “we’ll get out of your hair”, “we had some time to kill” came towards me. The grace comes easier.

Grace.

What is grace? In the dictionary is says “favor or goodwill”.

Let’s jump back to the beginning of 2017 for me. For the past few years I have asked the Lord for a word for the year that will reflect what my year will look like for me spiritually.

The word that he gave me wasn’t one that I really wanted.

It’s not one that I’m comfortable with.

It’s not one that I really enjoy.

To be honest, I don’t necessarily like it.

It’s actually a bit painful for me.

The word that God has given to me for 2017 is Change.

I spent some time with God about this because I seriously needed to know that this wasn’t going to be a year of too many major changes that I didn’t like. I didn’t want to be miserable for 365 days. You see, I don’t like change. I never have. As I spent time with Him asking him to bring some clarity and some peace to my heart, he kindly and tenderly said, “it’s good change, Rose”.

I’m learning that change is good. Change is necessary sometimes.

In the past 15 years I have learned to be a “big picture” person. I’ve learned that it’s helpful for me in keeping perspective in a lot of situations. Too many times in my life I have looked at or focused on the immediate or near future and I got discouraged. In learning how to see the big picture it has helped me to not give up hope of what’s to come. Along with this comes trust. Trust in the Creator of the Universe. 

We are in the beginning of the month of May and there have already been changes that haven’t been completely comfortable. In all honesty, parts of each of them have been a bit painful.

Pruning ... in ministry

Relationships … can be challenging and fun

Parenting … my first calling

Growth … spiritual and emotional

My heart … the healing truth of Jesus

All of these things are attached to some changes so far this year. Some have been painful, some have been full of peace.  There is and will be joy in each of these in His time.

In the beginning God promised me that the changes of this year would be good. I believe him. I do. It doesn’t mean that it’s always easy. Sometimes the change of the situation also brings change to the heart, my heart. The chiseling, pruning and chipping away of heart issues that aren’t healthy is uncomfortable. Oh how it hurts sometimes. In the gentleness, kindness and amazing grace of God it’s been good. It really has.  

I’m grateful that through the years God has brought me to a place of being a big picture person. He has been so patient with me. His grace has covered me so many times. So many times. What would I do without the grace that is so available to me?

I grab onto the goodness of God and the incredible grace that is so comforting to me in the midst of change.