For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. John 1:16

The next time I’m feeling frustrated with myself, not living up to my expectations for my day or for my life, please read me the poem, Grace, by Morgan Harper Nichols.  She writes:

You have never shamed the waves
for not arriving on the ocean shore
any sooner than they were meant to

and you have never looked above you
to guilt the clouds for taking their time
as they cross the noonday sky.

You simply accept:  these clouds must travel
at whatever pace they need to.

Oh,
what a difference
it would make if you gave yourself
this same grace.”[1]

I don’t give myself much grace, but God does.  The Bible says, “… to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.” (Ephesians 4:7) This isn’t some skimpy grace, but “grace upon grace” that comes from the fullness of God (John 1:16).  God is the grace giver.

All of God’s creation moves to the rhythms of His grace and I can too.  I can offer myself each day, up to the purposes of God, rather than my own, praying that I’ll be sensitive to God’s Spirit who longs to quiet me, if I would let Him.  You and I, Hebrews 4:16 says, can “approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

What a difference it would make, if we gave ourselves the grace that God gives.

 

Resource reading: Titus 2:11-14

[1] Nichols, Morgan Harper. “Morgan Harper Nichols.” Facebook. 25 Apr. 2021. Web. 08 July 2021.