Ripples Of Grace

  Why does God allow us to walk through the fire? There have been many times in my life where I have walked through some of the hardest and painful trials - and honestly I became rude and harsh because of the impact those trials had over me. My family and friends began to avoid me. I cried out to God "Where is all this anger coming from?" He then asked a question that changed my life. "Can you see the impurities in gold before it is put in the fire?" I answered, "No." "But that doesn't mean they were not always there. This anger was invisible to you but very visible to me," He said. "In my mercy and love for you, I've brought you into the fire so that these things could appear to you. Now what you do with this will determine your future. You can continue blaming people - and it will disappear for a time. But we're going to have to go through this process all over again - or you can own it, repent of it, and I will take it out of ...

OK so, I don't know if anyone knows or remembers the game mercy from when you were growing up (I've also heard it called uncle but I've always just called it mercy.) So anyway I've had this game cross my mind quite a few times over the past few days and I couldn't for the life of me figure out why this game kept crossing my mind nor could I understand what it meant but finally it hit me.... For anyone who doesn't know this game, it's where two opponents lock hands and the entire point is to apply so much force, so much pressure, to get the other persons hand bent so out of shape until their in so much pain that they surrender - and they have to say the word mercy and the stronger opponent has to let go… So, let's talk about this for a minute...      If you find yourself in a situation today or any day - where you are in opposition to a force that is greater than you are, against pressure that is greater than you are and you're in so much pain and i...

  Some of the best things in life are birthed from pain. And perhaps the Lord is going to use the waiting season you are in right now, even though it is hard and painful, to make you better. To refine your character. And to give you a new found hope in Him. So let's not step away from pain prematurely. Let's not strive in our own strength. Perhaps one day soon we will be grateful that the Lord loved us enough to get the worst of us out. While we wait on Him, He is doing a new thing in us. And perhaps after all the pain we endure, we will be the better of it.

  Jesus warned His disciples that we would have trouble in this life. We're not immune to the effects of living in a sinful world. Sickness, loss, trials, and a multitude of other challenges can cause us to doubt God's  purposes. "Why, Lord?" we ask, and wonder if God is cruel. Or, worse yet, that He doesn't care at all. The Bible assures us that while we may not understand why, we can hope in the promise that God never wastes pain. He always uses it to accomplish His promises in our lives. 

  There are certain situations that God has to put you through - to make His Word more tangible to you. You'll read that God is light in the dark, but you won't fully understand it until you're in the dark and He's your light. You'll read that He's a redeemer & restorer, but you won't fully grasp it until He puts you in a situation that He has to redeem + restore. You'll read that He's faithful to His Word. A comforter. But until you're in a situation where God's comfort is the only comfort - all these things will just be distant concepts.

  I think we have so much trouble just giving up & in to God because we've become accustomed to the temporary things of this world, & have forgotten what we know about God. What do we know about Him? The Bible tells us He created this entire earth, & every soul that wanders it. He created me, you, your best friend, that person you just can't seem to get along with. He created every planet & star in the universe. The hands that so carefully rolled the stars in His palms formed your soul. Not only that, but He knows every thought you've had; He sees your soul, & He knows you better than you know yourself. & yet He loves you the same. He has mapped out your entire life with perfect precision. The Creator of the universe looks upon you with love, & you are worthy in His eyes. This beautiful, glorious world & life He created for you. He died on that cross with you in His heart so you could have & experience that. So why is it so hard? Why is i...